A Territorial Army reservist who spent six months fighting in Iraq told a court he got into debt because he was not paid properly while overseas.

Michael Foreman was recalled as part of the TA reserve sent with Britain's force in the Gulf last year.

He used a false passport in an attempt to get a forged cheque for £9,500 changed into euros at a Crawley post office in July.

The bid failed when a counter assistant noticed that writing on the passport did not appear normal.

Foreman, 55, pleaded guilty to using a forged instrument and appeared at Hove Crown Court for sentencing yesterday.

Alissa Scott-Beckett, prosecuting, said Foreman told police he became involved in the fraud after he was approached by a man in Croydon.

Francesca Titus, defending, said Foreman had served in the RAF and Territorial Army for more than 18 years. She said: "He experienced problems with his pay being received from the Government.

"His wife lost her job and because he was away their debts began to spiral."

Foreman told the court: "It has been a big problem for the TA soldiers serving in Iraq. We were not being paid the proper amount which was taking a long time to be sent through."

The court heard Foreman had debts of £60,000 and had been offered £1,000 to change the cheque into euros.

Foreman, a lorry driver, of Coulsdon Road, Coulsdon, Surrey, was ordered to complete a 200-hour community punishment order.