A KEY player in a fraud committed at bank branches in Gwent was jailed yesterday.

On his release from prison Christiani Ignass will be deported to his home country of Tanzania.

Ignass, 34, went to branches of Lloyds TSB in Caldicot, Chepstow, Maindee in Newport and Pontypool to transfer funds and withdraw money.

None of the accounts were in his name.

He managed to get £13,000, and tried to withdraw another £29,000 but was unsuccessful.

Newport crown court was told he had no previous convictions but had overstayed his time in the UK and a decision had been made to deport him either immediately or after he had served a custodial sentence.

Andrew Jones, defending, said Ignass was not the principal in this case but used material provided by others.

He received £2,000 which he used to return to his ailing parents in Tanzania.

He had been in this country for eight years and worked hard in college as he wanted to provide for his partner and two children, said Mr Jones.

Ignass of Newcastle Road, Reading, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to a total of six offences, including deception and theft.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

Judge John Curran said he was a key player as the front man in the sophisticated fraud.