Three men from the south of England toured Mid Wales cheating garages and shops out of £12,000 worth of goods by using fake credit cards, a judge heard.

Luke Colwell, aged 25; Mark Hawkins, 42; and Craig James, 25, hit stores in Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Brecon, Lampeter, Rhayader and other towns and villages.

They were caught by police after an unrelated confrontation with a motorist.

All three admitted conspiracy to defraud and possessing fake credit cards. Hawkins also admitted driving with excess alcohol in his blood.

Paul Hobson, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court, on Tuesday, May 28, how the trio booked £1,000 worth of accommodation at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells, which they paid for with a false card and used as a base as they toured the area in a car and a van.

They failed to make purchases on numerous occasions because the cards did not fool the chip and pin machines.

But on other occasions they talked the shopkeeper into letting them sign for the goods and used the cards as proof of identity.

Their haul included a £2,000 quad bike from a shop in Rhayader and a £3,750 electric bicycle from a store in Lampeter.

Mr Hobson said on several occasions the men - particularly Hawkins - became aggressive and abusive when the fake cards did not work.

They managed to bully staff at shops and garages into giving them petrol, cigarettes and scratch cards by insisting that the cards were genuine.

In one shop Hawkins intimidated the staff member into allowing him to operate the chip and pin machine. He managed to produce a receipt which he then signed and left.

Police managed to recover about £7,000 worth of goods.

Mr Hobson said all three defendants had extensive criminal records, Hawkins already having more than 100 previous convictions.

James Hartson, representing Hawkins, said the fake cards had been bought for as little as £10 each.

Judge Paul Thomas said the men had worked as a team.

"On any view this was a well planned, well organised and persistent campaign of criminality over a period of days.

"You had at least 14 fake credit cards and toured Mid Wales with them," he added.

Judge Thomas described Hawkins as a professional criminal.

Hawkins, of London Road, Hilsea, Portsmouth, was jailed for 22 months. Colwell, of Bishopsfield Road, Fareham, Hampshire and James, of Quinton Close, Southsea, were each jailed for 16 months.