A man who swapped wives with his best friend turned to crime to finance the two families, writes Rebecca Smith.

Stephen Eddershaw, 52, swapped Lai Yi for Sonthaya Briggs, and then forged his wife's signature to get 8,300 in loans.

Mrs Eddershaw now lives with Mr Briggs.

Eddershaw, of West Court, Osney Island, Oxford, admitted forging Mrs Eddershaw's signature on Barclays Bank forms after the financial pressure of maintaining two families became too much. He pleaded guilty to two charges of obtaining property by deception. Wantage magistrates sentenced him to 18 months probation and ordered him to do 60 hours' community service. He must also pay 5,717.42 in compensation and 55 costs.

Shelley Cranshaw, prosecuting, said Eddershaw signed Lai Yi Eddershaw's name on a bank form at Barclays in Abingdon and again at Barclays in Torquay two months later.

She said that in October, Mrs Eddershaw noticed what had happened and the authorities were informed. Howard Wilson, defending, told the court: "They all get on extremely well but the financial pressure brought upon this man caused him to borrow a large sum of money."