Everyone starts with 0 feedback.....even you.

No all 0 fedback accounts are up to no good.  It is not unusual for someone to open an account to be able to bid on an item.

I opened a second account for my OH to use and he placed bids within minutes.

There was no verifiation to be done with ebay and the account was attached to the paypal account that I already had.

It is quite possible that the member does not even know that you have cancelled the bids....they may not even look at the auction until it is nearing the end.

How are you protecting yourself from a new member?  They don't pay so you open a NPB dispute and get your fees back and issue them with a strike....that will show them that it is not acceptable to not pay and only takes a few clicks.

I can't see any justification for your actions "to protect yourself" and you may just have turned away someone who may have been a repeat buyer.....can you afford that in this climate?