A FRAUDSTER caught using a fake American credit card to buy designer jackets from Bicester Village has been jailed for 15 months.

Shwan Karim admitted using a fake card to buy Moncler jackets worth more than £2,600 from the Pingle Drive outlet on October 11 last year.

The 27-year-old also admitted possession of cocaine, a Class A drug, on the same date.

Prosecutor Cathy Oliver told Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday Karim was with another man in the store when he offered to pay for the clothes at the till.

She said a staff member became "suspicious" when his American card, which had not been issued by the bank, did not work and called security.

Ms Olliver said Karim tried to run away but was detained by security outside the store, while the other man ran off.

The prosecutor said two other fake credit cards were found on Karim when he was searched.

She said when questioned, the defendant said he could not get a credit card himself so paid a friend £200 for them.

Ms Olliver added the cards had fake magnetic strips, the embossed numbers had been removed and fake numbers re-embossed.

Defence barrister Julian Lynch said Karim, of Queen Anne's Grove, London, was not a "sophisticated fraudster" and was not creating the cards.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said: "You were being paid, on your own admission, for your use of these cards. You and others need to understand that if you are prepared to get involved in sophisticated crime involving the use of forged credit cards, there will be sentences of imprisonment. They are meant to deter you."

He also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cards.