GAZETTE & HERALD: TRICKSTER Andrew O'Donnell cheated an employment agency out of more than £1,600 by pretending to employ himself.

The 25-year-old from The Causeway, Chippenham, pretended he was a boss looking for staff and managed to hire himself through a middleman.

But the agency was cheated out of wages they paid to O'Donnell as they never received anything from the fake company he had created.

O'Donnell, who was jailed for dishonesty in February 2003, was also found to have stolen three items worth nearly £40,000 from plant hire companies.

When one of the firms tracked him down he told them not to contact the police as he had connections with the Russian mafia.

O'Donnell pleaded guilty to one deception and three counts of theft.

Helen Field, defending, told Swindon Crown Court that O'Donnell had been involved in some shady dealings in the past.

She said that he owed some unpleasant people a lot of money and they had threatened his mother.

He was now working honestly and she said he could pay compensation to the losers and lead and honest life.

Recorder Nigel Seed QC adjourned the case to give O'Donnell a chance to prove he was working.