A MAN used false names to check into three hotels, then made off without paying, a court heard yesterday.

Thomas Brett Wilkinson, of Beaconsfield Street, Darlington, committed the offences at the Postchaise Hotel in Bishop Auckland, the Greenhead Country Hotel in Crook and the Commercial pub in Barnard Castle, all County Durham, last July and August.

The 41-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of obtaining services by deception at Darlington Magistrates' Court. He also admitted driving with excess alcohol, while disqualified.

Robert Willoughby, in mitigation, said unemployed Wilkinson had suffered the break-up of his marriage shortly before the offences occurred and had been reported missing for a time. He could only vaguely recall checking into the hotels because he was drunk, he said.

David Williams, chairman of the magistrates, sentenced Wilkinson to 100 hours of community service and gave him a 12-month community rehabilitation order.

He was given a three-year driving ban and ordered to pay compensation to the three hotels.