An estate agent has been jailed for 18 months after he took out loans totalling £30,000 in the name of a woman whose house he was selling.

James Beck used the woman’s details to open a bank account and take out two loans of £15,000.

The 39-year-old, of Bennett Hill Close, Royal Wootton Bassett, used some of the money to pay for a family holiday to Mexico.

While on bail Beck fled to South Africa in an attempt to evade police but was arrested at Heathrow Airport by officers on January 10 and remanded in custody.

He was charged with nine counts of fraud and two counts of stealing bank loan funds totalling £30,000.

When Beck was arrested he replied no comment in his police interviews.

It was later discovered that Beck fraudulently used his wife’s cheque book and her credit card.

These offences occurred between June and September 2017.

Beck pleaded guilty to all of the offences, which happened while he was working in Berkhamsted, when he appeared at St Albans Crown Court.

He was sentenced by Judge Andrew Bright who told him that he had abused his position of trust.

He added: “You are a deeply devious and dishonest human being.”

The offences occurred in October 2016 when Beck was living in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire.