THE husband of a housing association tenant at risk of repossession lied to the landlord, telling officials his wife had attempted to kill herself.

Lee Morgan, 32, even fabricated a false medical report about his wife’s 'non-responsive' condition which he claimed had been written by a doctor whose name had never been heard of by staff at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary.

Morgan, of Salkeld Road, Langwathby, near Penrith, admitted sending a false message via the public communications network. The charge states that his messages caused 'annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety.'

Prosecutor George Shelley said the background to the offence was that the defendant’s wife had been facing a possession issue with her tenancy, with the Castles and Coasts Housing Association.

Using his own name and date of birth, Morgan contacted the association by e-mail, telling officials that his wife had attempted to take her own life.

“He forwarded a letter, which was said to be from Dr John Johnston, saying that his wife was non-responsive.”

When checks were made at the Carlisle hospital where the doctor allegedly worked, they had no record of a doctor with that name working there.

Nor had Mrs Morgan been an in-patient at the hospital, they confirmed.

Because of the concern raised by the communications, housing officials made a welfare check on Mrs Morgan’s address and she said she had no knowledge of any attempt on her own life.

“She said that somebody had been harassing her by making a false report,” said Mr Shelley.

When interviewed, the defendant confirmed that the telephone number and email address used to send the messages were his.

The defendant was last in trouble in 2013, the court heard. District Judge John Temperley imposed a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work. The defendant must also pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

The defendant was not legally represented for the hearing.