FORMER Stourport publican Geoffrey Hopkins has been fined £1,000 after he admitted forging his partner's signature on a car credit agreement.

Hopkins, 51, formerly of the New Inn at Shrawley, pleaded guilty to making a false instrument to deceive First National Finance.

He had been offered a Jaguar at a bargain price, said John Barnett, prosecuting at Kidderminster. He had a poor credit record and asked his partner, Jacqueline Doyle, to make the finance agreement. When she refused he forged her name.

He defaulted on the payments and when bailiffs found the agreement was not valid she called in the police. Hopkins, now living in Evesham, was told by district judge Philip Browning to pay £100 costs.