A Gloucester man has admitted tapping into old telephone boxes in the city and in Tewkesbury to set up 0898 numbers in his name so he could cheat BT of premium rate payments.

Warren Godsell, 38, of Brook Street, Gloucester pleaded guilty at the city crown court today to five counts of attempting to obtain an electronic communication service without intending to make payment.

The offences were committed in decommissioned telephone boxes in Denmark Road and Tredworth Road, Gloucester and in High Street and Mitten Way, Tewkesbury.

The court heard that Godsell's DNA was found "everywhere" at each location and the offences were committed between June 23 and July 29, last year.

The intention of the scam, which involved interfering with the electronics in the phone boxes, was to set up 0898 telephone number which could be accessed at premium rates, BT then paying the call fees into Godsell's bank account.

But police investigations stopped the scam before it started.

Sentencing was adjourned until July 22 and Godsell was granted conditional bail.