MARTIN Plumpton built up a web of lies and deceit when he renewed his friendship with Ely woman Kim Barlow. He claimed to be buying a house in the city so he could see more of her, and stole one of her credit card cheques to pay a £5,000 deposit on a prop

MARTIN Plumpton built up a web of lies and deceit when he renewed his friendship with Ely woman Kim Barlow.

He claimed to be buying a house in the city so he could see more of her, and stole one of her credit card cheques to pay a £5,000 deposit on a property.

Plumpton stayed with Ms Barlow, and used her credit card details to enter agreements for the purchase of several items.

# He ordered furniture from DFS.

# He paid a deposit on the hire of a hot tub.

# He applied for the use of pornographic satellite TV services.

The house deposit cheque bounced, Ely magistrates heard on Thursday. Plumpton also used Ms Barlow's credit card to meet hotel bills on three occasions, after staying at the Crown Plaza in Manchester and McDonald Wessex Hotel in Winchester.

He also admitted that he dishonestly obtained a taxi ride in Ely, by using a forged armed forces travel warrant, and stealing a computer, clothing and cash from a woman travelling on a train

Plumpton, 27, of Aston Chase, Stone, Staffordshire, had worked with Ms Barlow in 2005 at a former workplace, but they lost contact, said prosecutor Yetunde Fawehinmi.

Last year Plumpton telephoned Ms Barlow "out of the blue" she said, and they met up.

"It was a series of lies and deception about who he was and where he lived," she said. "By August 18 she was having serious concerns, the lies became more complicated."

Plumpton admitted a total of 10 charges of theft, forgery, and deception.

Solicitor Mauro Masselli said Plumpton had been given an eight-month jail sentence in October last year for other offences, and had told Staffordshire police about the offences in Ely.

"He is now on his way to leading a law abiding and drug free life," he added

The court sent Plumpton to Cambridge Crown Court for sentencing.

# He has denied obtaining a post in the army by deception, by failing to declare previous convictions. The date of his trial will be set by the magistrates on May 17.