SIGN language was used in court by an interpreter when a man admitted swindling £2,500 from a woman friend he had met through a club for deaf people.

Matthew Kindlin, 33, of Fisherman’s Road, Connah’s Quay, had been offered a conditional caution by police.

But he had not repaid £700 of the money which he had taken from the victim in 2016 and the prosecution went ahead, district judge Gwyn Jones was told at Flintshire Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said Kindlin and the woman used to go out for meals and elsewhere but he had begged for money from her.

Victoria Handley, defending, told the Mold court Kindlin was keen to repay the woman. “He’s desperately sorry for what has happened."

Judge Jones told Kindlin, who has repaid £1,800: "You breached the trust that had been placed in you by your friend.”

A £200 fine was imposed and Kindlin was told to pay £115 costs and £700 compensation.