A FRAUDSTER who tried to steal £3,700 from an elderly end of life client who he was supposed to be caring for has been spared jail.

Kamar Ilyas, 31, appeared in the dock at Burnley Crown Court after admitting to trying to defraud William Greenwood out of £3,700 by forging a cheque, which he then made out to his wife.

PC Stephen Murphy, who led the investigation, said Ilyas was captured on CCTV placing the cheque into his wife's bank account at The Halifax in Nelson, and after his interview and whilst under caution admitted the offence and was reported for fraud.

PC Murphy said: "Fortunately the £3,700 cheque was stopped from being paid to Ilyas after The Halifax bank spotted the attempt and informed police."

Ilyas, of Lomeshaye Road, Nelson, pleaded guilty to theft between July 13 and July 14 in relation to the cheque book and fraud between July 14 and July 15 in relation to the fraudulent cheque.

He was sentenced nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years, told to complete 250 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £340 costs, with a £149 victim surcharge. He must also adhere by a four-month curfew and attend the thinking skills programme.