DRUG addict Stephen Saunders plundered thousands of pounds from the bank account of a priest in a sophisticated scam, a court heard.

The 29-year-old got £4,750 and £15,000 from Cheque Interchange in Trowbridge after cashing the documents which had been stolen from St Peters Church in Chippenham.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court said that a number of cheques belonging to a Fr Johnson had been taken during a break in at the church or vicarage.

He said they next turned up at the cheque cashing shop in late June, soon after the burglary, when Saunders went in to get them cashed.

As a part of their security checks the staff at the shop took a photograph of Saunders and also called a number written on the documents, which they believed to be the church.

Mr Meeke said that a man, who purported to be Fr Johnson and has yet to be brought to justice, answered the phone and confirmed that the cheques were Saunders' to cash.

At a previous hearing Saunders, of Parklands, Malmesbury, pleaded guilty to a number of offences including driving while disqualified and without insurance, four thefts, burglary, two deceptions, handling the stolen cheques and failing to surrender to magistrates on one occasion.

Jailing him for two years, Recorder William Hart, said "Your record is one of a persistent, albeit petty, offender."