A GANG used cloned credit cards on a North-East shopping spree, a court has been told.

The four, from West Yorkshire, ran up a bill of £1,141 in little under an hour in Durham stores.

After suspicions were aroused, they were approached by police on Elvet Bridge, where they attempted to dispose of some of their purchases.

Durham Crown Court heard that one of the group, Sahel Githroo, who gave a false name, was in possession of the cards.

Inquiries revealed the cards were cloned using details copied from genuine cards used by customers at a garage in Peniston, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Tom Mitchell, prosecuting, told the court: "They turned up with a plan to dishonestly use the cards in shops in Durham, and they set about it with gusto."

He said they bought expensive mobile phones and accessories and other goods during the trip.

Some of the goods were retrieved from their car, held under a false name, after their arrest.

Henry Trory, for Githroo, said that having failed to previously turn up at court, his client was re-arrested in November and has been in custody since.

Githroo, 24, of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was yesterday jailed for nine months after he admitted conspiracy to obtain by deception and perverting the course of justice by giving the false name.

In October, two co-accused, who were also from the Dewsbury area, were jailed for nine and ten months after they admitted the conspiracy charge.

A third man, who also admitted involvement, was earlier ordered to carry out 240 hours of community work.