A BIN man used false references to get a job at a Wiltshire children’s home, a court heard.

Daniel Smith lied to managers at Park Blue Homes Ltd, citing as his referees his girlfriend and a beautician. The banned driver also claimed he had a UK driving licence.

He was caught after staff at Providence Cottage, Brinkworth, grew suspicious about his references. And it emerged he had been using company cars to drive youngsters at the home despite not being insured to drive.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard Smith, 24, applied to be a senior care worker at the children’s home in September. He provided two references. One, it later transpired, was a beautician working at a health club and not a former care home manager as he had claimed. The other was his girlfriend.

Prosecutor James Burnham said Smith had access to the children’s home staff cars. It was suggested he had even driven with his young charges in the car.

He said: “What he’s done is actually obtained that employment and put anybody he drove around at risk by virtue of not being insured to drive a vehicle. It’s quite a serious allegation of fraud, quite a deliberate, planned fraud over a period of time.”

Staff became aware of the false references and called in the police. A police officer was on patrol near Smith’s home town, Faringdon, earlier this month and was told the man’s black Seat had been spotted on the A420. The officer tracked the car and its owner to Lansdowne Road, where Smith admitted he had been driving.

Interviewed by police, Smith was insulting about the Providence Cottage manager and claimed and her brother was a police officer "so they were trying to cover their backs." He told officers staff were willing to overlook the references because he had the qualifications. It took him four days to get the job, which he said would not have been enough time for the relevant checks to be done.

Mr Burnham said: “To a certain extent he didn’t face up to matters and certainly didn’t show any remorse in the police interview.”

Smith, of Lansdowne Road, Faringdon, admitted fraud by false representation and two counts each of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Mike Hall, defending, said: “Foolishly, Mr Smith did what he did for what he thought was the best of reasons: that he wanted employment.”

His client, who was working through an agency as a bin man, was already on a probation order, which he was in breach of as a result of poor attendance. “There seems something inevitable about what is going to happen today,” Mr Hall said.

Smith was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on March 27. Chairman of the bench Peter Hyson said: “We’ve had the opportunity to look at your past record, which you are aware is appalling. There are numerous incidents of you driving while disqualified and you are taking absolutely no notice of it whatsoever.

“You showed no sign of remorse at the original interview, but you have pleaded guilty today.”