Evening Press reporter

A policeman's ex-wife and mother of two was today starting two-and-a-half years in jail for masterminding a "sophisticated" £70,000 plastic money fraud.

Jayne Jones, 32, directed her "nave" new partner, Stephen Neal Daniel, 28, in six months of repeated crime to buy material security for her family, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The couple from The Village, Wigginton, together with Hertfordshire salesman Peter Michael Patchell, who was infatuated with Jones, used other people's names and addresses to get loans, finance and credit cards from money institutions.

Prosecutor Julian Goose said the Wigginton couple fraudulently bought a computer and scanner with which Jones made false driving licences and birth certificates to further their crimes.

In total the fraudulent credit applications totalled £70,000, but the three were only successful in getting £38,000 between them, including £1,500 in gift vouchers from Marks & Spencer.

In 13 days they tried to get £50,000 in eight separate loans from Lombard Bank, but netted only £17,500.

Jones and Daniel were caught on September 2, 1996 after Marks & Spencer staff in Sheffield became suspicious and circulated video stills of them to the rest of their stores. Patchell was arrested three weeks later.

All three admitted conspiracy to defraud. Jones admitted obtaining finance for a £21,000 Saab by deception.

Judge Stephen Gullick said it was a "sophisticated" fraud as he jailed Jones for two-and-a-half years, Daniel for 18 months and Patchell, 49, formerly of Falcon Road, Bushey, Herts, for nine months.

For Jones, Tanu Mylvpganam said she had been short of money after her business collapsed and her marriage broke up. She wanted to provide material security for her family.

But once she began the crimes, the situation got out of control and she was relieved when finally caught.

For Daniel, Simon Jack said he was "nave" and did what Jones told him what to do. He had received no money directly from the crimes.

For Patchell, Brian Warner said he had only been involved in part of the crimes for a few weeks and had received between £3,000 and £5,000.

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