A man who thought he was on the verge of football stardom with Kingstonian FC has admitted trying to use a woman's credit card at a petrol station in Chessington.

Godfrey Obebo, 35, appeared at Kingston Magistrates Court on Monday (27) charged with handling stolen goods and obtaining property by deception.

His solicitor said Obebo was an ex-professional player currently on trial with Kingstonian who was looking forward to playing against Premiership big boys Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

No chance

But Ks manager Geoff Chapple said although he had sometimes trained with the club in the past, he had no chance of being picked for the big game.

And the Professional Footballers Association has no record of him ever being a professional.

Obebo, from east London, was filmed on video at the Shell Garage, Hook Road, in October of last year, as he tried to buy £13.98 of groceries.

But staff noticed the card had a woman's name and rang the bank which said it was stolen.

After protests, Obebo drove off in a Jaguar and returned later to try unsuccessfully to recover the card.

But the staff had noted the number plates, which the police traced to Obebo before arresting him on March 18.

Obebo says he was given the card, which was stolen in New York, by an American friend who said it belonged to his girlfriend.

He is on income support and says he went to the garage to buy food for his three children.

Magistrates are awaiting reports before passing sentence.

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