A painter and decorator from Macedonia who was caught using a fake driving licence to open a bank account walked free from court today.

Oxford Crown Court heard Aleksander Andreevski, 21, of Windale Avenue, Blackbird Leys, tried to use the fake document at Lloyds TSB in High Street, Oxford, on June 16.

Henry James, prosecuting, said bank staff became suspicious because although the licence had an issue date of 2008, it had a black and white photograph.

Mr James said: "Mr Andreevski said he had bought the driving licence for £180 and knew it was a fake."

The court heard Andreevski, who admitted possessing an identity document with intent at a previous hearing, arrived legally in the UK two years ago but did not return to Macedonia when his time expired.

Stephen Parker, defending, said Andreevski had been staying with his brother's family in Oxford. He planned to return to his country this summer to start a university course in dentistry and wanted a bank account to keep safe the £1,000 he earned from painting and decorating.

Judge Christopher Compston told Andreevski the case had probably cost £2,000 to bring to court and ordered him to pay £250 costs - saying he probably needed the rest of the cash for his course - before giving him a conditional discharge.