A Santander personal bank advisor from Wembley was involved in a scam where bank accounts were opened for fraudster using false identities, a court heard.

Adrian Ramsey, 33, of Tokyngton Avenue, is claimed to have carried out the swindle with Sheik Deen, 51, who was the manager at the branch in Stepney, east London.

The Old Bailey heard Deen was captured on CCTV repeatedly setting up accounts in different names during meetings with conman Madjid Bouafia.

Bouafia then paid stolen cheques into the accounts before withdrawing the money in cash.

Deen was paid at least £1,500 for his part in the scam.

Prosecutor Stephen Hopper told the court the investigation began after a search of Bouafia’s home in Lambeth uncovered a large number of bank cards and correspondence.

He continued: “A number of those accounts had been opened by Deen in his capacity as a bank manager at Santander.”

Deen was manager of the branch of Santander in Stepney until March 2013 when he moved to Bethnal Green, the court heard.

He was expected to have face-to-face interviews with customers before authorising the opening of an account, the court heard.

But Bouafia was able to set up a series of accounts in different names using false identity documents, the court heard.

Mr Hopper said that Deen should have been alerted to the fraud by a series of features including the repeated use of the same information including telephone numbers.

Bouafia was captured on CCTV visiting the Bethnal Green branch on several occasions.

Deen, from East Ham, and Ramsey both deny a single count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation between 1 April, 2010 and 3 Apri,l 2014.

Bouafia has admitted fraud.

The trial continues.