A WIFE who tricked her spouse into running up loan and credit card debts of £250,000 was trying to keep up with the Joneses'.

Pauline Seal, 48, of Cheltenham Drive, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to four counts of obtaining services by deception at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

Richard Thomas, prosecuting, said Seal tricked her husband into signing for mortgages, forged his signature and applied for credit cards in his name by saying her husband was in hospital.

Seal applied for a £107,000 mortgage from the Kensington Mortgage Company in addition to the £65,000 mortgage they already had for their home in Blackbridge Road, Chippenham, by tricking her husband into signing the documents.

She then applied for a £130,000 mortgage from the Loans Company UK Ltd, but the application was refused.

Seal also raised £2,132.03 from Blackhorse Finance and admitted forging her husband's signature to obtain the money.

It was only when Mr Seal went to apply for a Barclaycard in September 2005 and was told he already had one in his name, which had £1,000 owing on it, he uncovered his wife's deception.

The bank told him his wife had said he was in hospital after suffering a stroke.

Jonathan Simpson, defending, said: "Mrs Seal was borrowing the money for the benefit of the family and not so she could go off pampering herself."

He said it "beggared belief" that items were coming into the home and Mr Seal did not ask how they were affording them.

Mr Simpson said: "He, at best, kept his head in the sand.

"Mrs Seal felt under pressure to comply with a persuasive and aspirational husband's demands and to keep up with the Joneses'."

Mr Simpson said all the money had been repaid and there was no chance Mrs Seal would offend again as she had now split up with her husband.

Judge Charles Wade said: "You chose a quite dishonest way to live beyond your means.

"To what extent that was because of you or your husband is not clear but the only good thing is that the debts have been repaid.

"You not only deceived the companies but also your husband and it is surprising he didn't notice."

Seal was sentenced to a 180-hour community punishment order and ordered to pay £200 court costs.