A conman was so fat he couldn't fit into the dock in court.

Michael Finch could not squeeze through the gate leading to the dock where prisoners stand at Lewes Crown Court.

Instead, Judge Richard Brown had to give the defendant permission to sit in the public gallery during the hearing.

Finch was given a suspended jail sentence for attempting to open a bank account with false documents at a branch of the HSBC, in Crawley, in March.

The 62-year-old admitted using a false instrument, a forged British Gas bill, and possessing a document, a false driving licence, with intent to deceive.

The court heard bank staff were suspicious about the documents and Finch had also called himself Mr Clark. While checks were being carried out he left the bank but was later identified by CCTV.

At the start of the hearing Nigel Daniel, defending, told the court: "He cannot fit in the dock."

Mr Daniel said Finch claimed he was forced to commit the offences. He said: "He was under pressure by a gang of Nigerians."

Finch was given a three-month jail sentence suspended for one year. He will also be under the supervision of a probation officer for 12 months.