A YOUNG woman who had her identity stolen is warning others to be on guard after she was defrauded of nearly £20,000.

Catherine Whitehouse, 23, who lives in Staverton, made the horrifying discovery six weeks ago when she was applying for a mortgage with her partner Liam.

“We had a phone call to say that there was an issue with the credit report,” she said. “I assumed it was my partner because I didn’t have any debt and I have a relatively well-paid job so I didn’t know what the problem was.

“When they said it was me, I immediately checked my accounts and it was just incomprehensible how many things were on there that weren’t mine.

“A loan had even been taken out in my name that had been accepted but not yet processed, which I managed to put a stop to before it was too late.”

On Tuesday, police raided a house in Blease Close in the same village where Miss Whitehouse lives, after making the link between the purchases to the address. A 30-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of identity theft and fraud offences.

Police also discovered a cannabis factory at the house and the woman was also arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis, along with a 31-year-old man who was also at the house. Officers seized 20 plants with a street value of £500-£600.

They have both since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Miss Whitehouse, who works as a branch manager at Buildbase in Melksham, found out that thousands of pounds worth of goods had been bought from online catalogues and payday loans taken out in her name. She is now hopeful of recovering most of the cash but worries her credit rating will be difficult to restore.

“I still don’t know how people can take out credit cards without photo identification,” she said.

“It was a really tiring process cancelling everything because you have to prove you are who you say you are.

“Now I’m scared to say my date of birth out loud just in case someone notes it down.

“Identity theft is one of those things you don’t think will happen to you and you hear about on the TV but you never think that you will be the victim.”

Sgt Jeff Rice from Wiltshire

Police added: “Following an initial search of the address, it quickly became apparent that the extent of the fraud was far greater than first suspected, and as a result officers seized a large amount of household items believed to be linked to the fraud offences, and also located a cannabis factory.”

For more information about identity theft, visit www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud_protection/identity_fraud