A DRUG-addict couple lived the 'high life,' running up bills using credit card details supplied by an airport worker.

A court heard how 'devoted' Michael and Cherie Roocroft stayed in top East Lancashire hotels -- always choosing the bridal suite -- and spent more than £800 on a two-night stay.

The defendants used information provided by cricketer, Mohsin Iqbal, then working at Manchester Airport -- and whose reward for his part in the£2,000 scam was to be a camcorder.

The trio were all put behind bars, after admitting their parts in conspiring to obtain services and property by deception.

Judge David Pirie said everybody almost daily entrusted their credit card details to shops or other commercial enterprises and if those given the details abused that they must lose their liberty. He gave Cherie Roocroft, 26, who has previous convictions for similar offences, a total of 20 months while her common-law husband, an electrician, received 17 months. Iqbal, 20, of Pine Street, Blackburn, was sent to a Young Offenders' Institution for nine months and the jzudge, who described him as having academic and sporting ability, said it was a great tragedy to see him in the dock.

The Roocrofts, of Shear Brow, Blackburn, were also committed for sentence after being convicted of three deception offences. Cherie Roocroft also admitted driving while disqualified. Her common-law husband, 30, had also pleaded guilty to possessing heroin.

Charles Brown, prosecuting, said between April and December last year when the offences were discovered, Iqbal worked at the airport and got customers' credit card details from computer records of sales. He then passed them on to the Roocrofts.

The credit card details would be given over the telephone by somebody pretending to be the mother of one of the defendants. Among hotels the couple stayed at were the Dunkenhalgh in Clayton-le-Moors, the Higher Trapp at Simonstone and the Post House, Clitheroe. The scam came to light when they booked in for two nights at the Higher Trapp and suspicious staff contacted the police after finding burned foil in a bin.

Sara Dodd, for the Roocrofts, said they had abused heroin.

Fred Parkinson, for Iqbal, said he had been at university studying management and marketing but had to give up his course after his laptop computer, holding all his course work, was stolen.

Mr Parkinson added the defendant had played cricket for Blackburn Northern and East Lancs, his father was a well-known player and he had helped to start Asian cricket teams in the local community.