A 25-YEAR-OLD Darwen man who used 'cloned' credit cards to buy high value computers at stores across the North of England was said to be a bit player in the overall offence.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mark Barnes was a lowly-paid employee and not the brains behind an operation which targeted large stores selling lap-top computers.

Barnes, of Ivinson Road, Darwen, pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining property by deception, two attempts to obtain property by deception, theft of a credit card, theft of a car battery and driving while disqualified.

He was committed in custody for sentence at Preston Crown Court after District Judge Jones said his powers of punishment were not sufficient.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said all the deception offences involved cloned credit cards and had taken place at stores in Harrogate, Leeds and Warrington.

Kevin Preston, defending, said Barnes was realistic about his situation and had come to court fully expecting to receive a custodial sentence.

"In his favour he was not the brains behind this operation, he was simply a foot soldier, a lowly-paid employee," said Mr Preston.

The judge said Barnes had shown a disregard for a community rehabilitation order imposed on November 28 and had carried on offending when on bail.