A MAN stole his friend’s identity to get cheaper insurance for his car, in what a judge described as “nasty, scheming little frauds”.

Samuel Tobie, 29, of Robert Barracks, Larkhill, pretended to be Mark Blaney when he requested insurance quotes for his Mitsubishi saloon.

He then used Mr Blaney’s card details to set up a monthly direct debit to pay for the insurance, which cost nearly £400.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting at Salisbury Crown Court on Thursday, said Mr Blaney became concerned when he noticed the monthly payments going out because he paid for his insurance as a lump sum.

A total of £163.70 came out for the insurance.

Tobie, who was charged with three counts of making false representation for gain, also took out a policy in April 2009 and pretended he had no claims or convictions.

He pleaded guilty on May 6 at a case management hearing.

Gary Venturi, defending, said Tobie was genuinely remorseful for what he had done. “It is opportunistic of course,” he said. “One has to set upon this course, and he accepts that this was not an accident or a mistake.

“But it certainly was a serious lack of judgement. Feeling the pinch financially, he was tempted in the way he was to try to ease the burden on himself.”

Judge Nicholas Wood sentenced Tobie to a 12-month community order with 90 hours of unpaid work for the offences.

“You don’t do that to anyone, let alone a friend,” he said. “It is a great shame to see a man like you in the dock facing charges of this nature – it is very disheartening.

“There is something chilling about someone pretending to be you – halfway to stealing your identity and halfway to burglary really. It is not tolerable.”

Tobie was also ordered to pay £163.70 compensation and £150 costs.