A gambler tried to pay off his debts by conning people in a £40,000 driving licence con.

Naser Mirza, 25, of Perth Road, Gants Hill, said his brother worked for the DVLA and that he could get people the permit and the insurance.

Mirza would vanish with the money and even went abroad to hide from his creditors.

He was caught when his family rang the police on March 17 last year to report him missing.

When officers searched his home address they found seven provisional driving licences and other insurance documents with personal details which did not belong to him.

Edward Connell, prosecuting, said: “He had got himself into a severe gambling addiction and began to borrow money for his gambling and there were people willing to pay him to defraud their licences.

“Over a course of time people began approaching him to have their licences changed because he told them that his brother worked for the DVLA and he could do it for a fee.

“His brother never worked for the DVLA and he would just take their documents.

“Soon people wanted points revoked and insurance obtained and he would often take documents for money.

“He told police over a course of time he had taken some £40,000 from people and had only paid back around £15,000.”

Judge Stephen Dawson was due to pass sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court but put the matter back so further investigations could be made to see what help is available for Mirza.

He said: “I would like to be able to intervene with a sentence that assists you with this gambling problem.”

Mirza, who admitted a single count of possessing items for use in fraud, was bailed until June 20 on the condition he does not enter any premises licensed for gambling purposes.