A PEDMORE Fields man who used false qualifications to obtain a lecturing job in the Black Country has been given a 12 month jail term - suspended for two years.

Andrew Woodfield picked up £13,000 in the six months he spent teaching plumbing students at the Walsall Training Centre before he was finally rumbled.

The 45-year-old, of Queensway, admitted fraud by false representation and he was further ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told Woodfield managed to secure the position at the centre by presenting qualifications that were in the name of Nicholas Davies, from Wrexham.

But when questioned, the fraudster claimed he had changed his name as he was adopted, but he had then decided to revert back to his original name.

He had briefly come into contact with Mr Davies but he had no knowledge of the fact his qualifications were being used by Woodfield, the court was told.

The fraud meant that students at the training centre who had received qualifications under the guidance of Woodfield had to be reassessed.

Christopher O’Gorman, defending, stressed to Judge Helen Hughes there had been no problems with the conduct of Woodfield while he was working at the centre.