A fraudster who stole more than £77,000 from would-be tenants has been jailed for 35 months after targeting renters desperate to secure accommodation in London.
Freddie Priestley, 34, of Southwark, was convicted of fraud by false representation on Friday after taking deposits from prospective tenants and then preventing them from moving into a property in Bermondsey.
Victims were told a series of excuses as to why they could no longer move in, including claims that Priestley’s father had died. Despite cancelling the arrangements, he retained their deposits.
The case, which was highlighted by a BBC London investigation, saw Priestley defraud victims of £77,406. The court heard that in some instances money taken from new victims was used to repay earlier ones.
CUSTODIAL SENTENCE
During sentencing at Inner London Crown Court, the judge said the impact on victims was significant enough to warrant an immediate custodial sentence.
One victim, who asked not to be named, told the BBC: “I was obviously sad that we won’t get compensation because they say he’s very poor – but I don’t think that’s the case. But at least justice was served.”
The case comes as rental fraud continues to rise across the UK. According to Report Fraud, 4,441 rental scams were reported across England, Wales and Northern Ireland over the past year, with people aged between 20 and 29 most likely to fall victim.
BE VIGILANT
Detective Chief Inspector Imran Beg, from the Metropolitan Police’s economic crime team, warned renters to be particularly vigilant during the summer months.
He said fraudsters often create a false sense of urgency to pressure people into handing over money and urged renters to stop, think and seek advice before paying deposits or committing to a tenancy.
The Metropolitan Police is advising renters to thoroughly research properties and landlords before making any payments.
