Blades player's brother admits mortgage fraud

But Leeds Crown Court was told yesterday the bank making the 200,000-plus loan to James Montgomery had not lost out through his actions because his brother, Blades midfielder Nick Montgomery, had always stood behind his purchase.

Richard Wright, prosecuting, said since the application for the mortgage was made to HBOS in 2003 not one mortgage payment had been missed and the bank had made the decision not to foreclose on the loan.

The court heard Montgomery claimed to be earning 70,000 per year as a company director when in the application year concerned he had actually earned around 13,000.

Richard Barradell, for Montgomery, said the offence happened more than seven years ago and was almost technical. "He has made every payment and in many respects he is the ideal customer for the bank."

Montgomery, 30 of Pinfold Lane, Methley, Leeds, admitted obtaining services by deception.

He has already been ordered to pay 10,000, his benefit from his actions, and was given a community order with 120 hours unpaid work.

Sentencing him Judge Rodney Grant said such offences would normally receive imprisonment but it was an unusual case and he could take a different course.

It appeared the intention had always been that his brother would assist him with payments. "He was certainly an individual who could afford to pay.

"The fact is over seven-and-a-half years you have not once defaulted, no one has lost by your action and I have already ordered you to pay 10,000 assessed to be the benefit from your criminality, for that is what it was."