A STUDENT who obtained more than £3,000 from a benefits swindle has been jailed for three years at Worcester Crown Court.

Kumba Moanda cashed in forged payment orders at post offices in Malvern and Hereford.

He told police he was working for a man called "Adolf" who was paying him £100 a day.

But bailed after being charged with a number of offences, he carried on the scam in Somerset before being arrested by a post office guard, said Tim Harrington, prosecuting.

Moanda, from north London, but who originates from Zaire where he has a wife and children, admitted conspiracy to defraud, deception and attempted deception.

A batch of benefit books were stolen and money orders, forged to a high standard, were inserted in them, said Mr Harrington.

They were made payable to a real person and backed up with credit cards used by the swindlers as they cashed them in.

They were also made payable to post offices with a genuine identity number, obtained with a false driving licence application or by buying a postal order.

Moanda, who collected a total of £3,297, had a 50p postal order on him when he was arrested, plus £756 in cash.

He had telegraphed £1,900 to West Africa. He admitted cashing payment orders 15 times.

James McCracken, defending, described the 36-year-old as "a foot soldier" in the fiddle.

He got involved with a plotter by accident after borrowing money off him.

When he could not repay the debt, he naively agreed to take part in the crooked scheme. Moanda had been in Britain since 1996 and was seeking political asylum.

He had been attending college to learn English.

Mr McCracken added: "He's learned a harsh lesson. He had difficulties with finance and took a wrong step by becoming involved."

Deputy Judge Thomas Dillon QC said the offences were grave and well planned with large sums of cash being involved.