A MAN forged his ex-wife's signature in an attempt to obtain £5,000 to carry out home improvements, a court heard yesterday.
Keith Downie, 40, of North Road, Darlington, dishonestly countersigned a loan application to Central Trust Plc using Alexandra Downie's name, South Durham Magistrates' Court heard.
Ciaran Grogan, prosecuting, said Downie's application would have been successful had the company not called his former wife to check some of the information.
"She told them she was no longer married to Mr Downie and didn't live in North Road any more," he told magistrates sitting in Darlington.
James Luke, in mitigation, said his client was under pressure to sell the house and needed money to undertake vital repairs.
Downie was sentenced to a 100-hour community punishment order and told to pay £138 costs.
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