A MAN who scammed retailers around Bicester Village using fake credit cards to buy designer goods has been spared jail.

Jordan Barnes tried various shops at the retail outlet in a bid to steal clothes and rucksacks, and fraudulently bought more than £4,000 worth of items.

Suspicious security staff realised what was going on and eventually the police arrested the 23-year-old, along with an alleged accomplice, and the cards were seized.

READ ALSO: Alan Lobb jailed for dog attack at Wallingford flats.

Barnes, of Crescent Road, Bolton, had already admitted one count of fraud and another count of having articles for the use of fraud.

Outlining the case at Oxford Crown Court yesterday prosecutor Alexandra Bull said the con took place in Bicester on October 18 2018.

Barnes, along with another man, had 12 Mastercard credit cards, none of which were genuine bank cards.

One of those cards was used at 9.42am whereby a rucksack valued at £1,075 was purchased.

In that case the cashier was unable to process the card and the details were entered manually, producing a receipt which had to be signed for.

Attempts were then made to buy Balenciaga trainers, and when this failed store staff advised going to a cash machine.

There were other efforts to purchase clothing and by now security staff had become suspicious of what was going on.

Returning to the Fendi Boutique store a number of rucksacks were purchased using a fake card.

The total value of goods that had been bought using the the fake cards was £4,155.

READ ALSO: RAF training sergeant who groomed and sexually incited young girls is jailed.

After the police were called the cards used in the fraud were seized and the men arrested.

It was also revealed that Barnes has a number of previous convictions, including for theft and shoplifting crimes, as well as for violent offences.

In mitigation Gordana Turudija-Austin said that her client had changed his life 'significantly' since the offending.

She said his partner was soon expecting a child and he had launched his own business, having qualified as a nutritionist and a dietician.

At the time of the offence she said her client was 'struggling financially' and was told if he went to buy the designer items at Bicester Village he would receive about £300 for the task.

Barnes remains subject to an existing community order for a separate offence and he still has more than 250 hours of unpaid work to complete along with his other requirements.

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly imposed a jail term of four months, suspended for 18 months. He also ordered that Barnes pay £525 in court costs and a victim surcharge.

Judge Daly warned him: "If you commit another offence within that 18 months you will be appearing before me and the sentencing judge will impose a sentence of imprisonment unless it;s unjust to do so."