Blackburn magistrates heard the 19-year-old carried out nine transactions at hotels in Langho, Whalley, Preston, Bury and Bradford using three different credit cards.

Kamar Ilyas, of Lomeshaye Road, Nelson, admitted three charges of fraudulently making false representations to book hotel rooms and get cash back and asked for six similar offences to be taken into consideration. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of reports.

Two of the charges related to Mitton Fold, Langho, where Ilyas booked a room on August 13th and got £95 cash back. Two days later, he booked another room and got another £95 cash back and, at the same time, booked a room at the Swan in Whalley where he got £150 cash back.

Mrs Claire Grant (prosecuting) said the offences to be taken into consideration included the Park Hotel, Preston, the Red Lion and the Old Mill, Bury, and the Sporting Lodge, Bradford.

The charges related to a credit card belonging to a woman who had used it to buy a pair of shoes for her husband from a mail order company in Barrowford where Ilyas had once worked.

"In fact, he used the credit card details of several customers to fund his activities," said Mrs Grant.

Mr Nick Dearing (defending) said Ilyas had had no previous convictions until entering his guilty pleas in court.

"He is a full-time student at Burnley College studying to become a social worker and it remains to be seen how this conviction will affect his future," said Mr Dearing.

He said while working at the Barrowford company, Ilyas had found a piece of paper on which three people's credit card details had been written.

"He is a decent young man and recognises there is no excuse for what he has done," said Mr Dearing. "He says that in a way it was a relief to be arrested as it enables him to put the whole shameful episode behind him. He is terrified of what affect this will have on his parents in the community and it is safe to say this is a young man who has never offended before and never will again."