A MAN conned his grandmother out of more than £34,000 by saying he was joining the police force and needed to buy a flat.

Durham Crown Court heard that Gavin Bell's grandmother mortgaged her retirement flat and gave him £23,000 to buy his own property.

Despite also regularly using her cashcard to withdraw thousands of pounds from her bank account, the grandmother, who has been left in debt, does not want to see him jailed, the court was told.

Bell spent the money on a car, a holiday in the US and gambling.

Peter Kilgour, prosecuting, said he used the pretence of becoming a police officer to dupe his grandmother.

He said: "The victim's husband had been in the police. She was naturally pleased when she heard her grandson was also going to join the force and wanted to help him in any way she could.

"Bell told his grandmother he had been stationed in Billingham and needed money for a flat."

Despite receiving £23,000 when she mortgaged her retirement flat in the city, he repeatedly used the cashcard.

It only came to light when Bell's father became suspicious after learning his son was not joining the police force.

Mr Kilgour said Bell's grandmother described the aftermath of the offence as, "a living nightmare".

"She has been left heavily in debt and is in constant receipt of threatening letters from finance companies.

"Despite this, she remains loyal and says she would not like to see her grandson go to prison," said Mr Kilgour.

Bell, of Tiree Close, Brandon, near Durham, admitted six charges of obtaining property by deception and asked for a further 43 offences to be considered.

Ron Mitchell, mitigating, said his client was "extremely remorseful" and planned to pay the money back if a job offer as a landscape gardener comes to fruition.

He added that Bell, of previous good character, has had psychological problems which made him prone to self delusion.

Recorder Chris Attwool deferred passing sentence for six months to see if Bell honours his pledge to start repaying the money.