A FRAUDSTER who helped a "handsome" criminal associate raid £4,550 from a couple's bank account has been spared jail.

Andrejs Cistjakovs, 25, of Carlton Road, Boston, lent his own account to a Polish compatriot for the cash transfer.

The factory worker travelled to London to try and withdraw the money but was arrested after suspicious bank staff raised the alarm.

Cistajakovs admitted possessing criminal property but denied he knew anything of the plan until the pair were in the HSBC in Stratford.

But after a trial of issue Judge Joanne Lees ruled he knew it was fraudulent from the outset.

Speaking through an interpreter Cistajakovs told Inner London Crown Court he met 'Petris' at work and he needed a bank account to transfer some money.

He said: "He looked handsome and normal. Why shouldn't I help him?"

The 25-year-old said he handed over his cashcard – connected to an as yet empty account – and awaited a call to get it back.

But the court heard the following day, February 17, he was inside the Beckton branch at around 9am shortly after drawing out a test run of £300.

He asked to withdraw £3,000 but staff said he would have to wait some time.

The men left and went to Stratford to try again but were arrested.

The court heard the bungling conman gave away the fact he knew the name of the victims whose account had been raided by hackers.

Judge Lees sentenced Cistajakovs to do 150 hours unpaid community work.

She told him: "I'm sure that you travelled to London for the sole purpose of carrying out your role in this dishonest and fraudulent transaction.

"It involved a planned and persistent attempt to steal £4,550 from an unsuspecting account holder whose funds were diverted into this account by dishonest means."