A PAIR of Russian fraudsters came to the North-East for a spending spree using stolen credit cards, a court heard.

Sergi Krivenko and Ales Biazliudau travelled by train from their temporary homes in London to make use of the cards in shops in Durham, last month.

Miriam Towers, prosecuting, told Durham Crown Court that Krivenko and Biazliudau were in this country legally, having arrived on work visas in the summer.

"They arrived at the station on September 10 and went on to make a series of £40 purchases of gift vouchers in shops round the city centre," said Ms Towers.

"It is thought the figure of £40 was chosen because it is just under the amount at which most shops tend to make more rigorous checks."

The court was told the pair were given the cards by another man, who detectives have been unable to trace.

Krivenko, 20, and Biazliudau, 24, admitted obtaining property by deception.

The pair used a Russian interpreter who stood alongside them in the dock to offer their pleas and to follow proceedings in court.

Jailing both for six months, the judge, Mr Justice Andrew Smith, told them: "When you came to the North-East, you knew you were doing so as part of a criminal enterprise.

"These sentences are shorter than they might otherwise be, because I recognise serving time in prison in this country is harder for foreign nationals."

The judge also ordered both to pay £100 towards the prosecution costs.