A Teesside man has been sentenced for scamming prospective puppy owners out of thousands of pounds.
Reece Nixon, 24, of Hanson Street, Brambles Farm, Middlesbrough, admitted 20 offences of fraud by false representation when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 21st September 2021.
He was back before the same court for sentencing on Thursday, 4th November 2021.
Fraud by false representation is an offence under section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. It has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction; 10 years' custody and/or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment.
The court heard that between April and May 2020, unemployed Nixon placed adverts for non-existent Labrador puppies on the Pets4Homes website.
Between 16th April and 11th June 2020 twenty prospective buyers paid Nixon between £100-150 deposit for a puppy, but he disappeared with the cash and the puppies were never to be seen. Two of the victims were subsequently reimbursed by their bank.
Prosecutor Rachel Butt told the court that suspicions were raised when prospective buyers were directed to collect the puppies from a property on Monmouth Road, Teesdale.
They found the property unoccupied and neighbours confirmed that Nixon had moved away.
"Multiple times the victims asked for money back and he refused to do so, cutting off contact with those victims," she added.
Ms Butt said that Nixon rang prospective buyers and falsely claimed he had been out of reach because he had been supporting a relative who was seriously ill with covid-19 in hospital.
Several prospective buyers had attended the Monmouth Road address with children, who had been left distraught when they realised it was a scam.
In a statement read to the court, one victim said: "I felt stupid and naive. I was trying to do something nice for my partner and our children.
"I feel like he's made a significant profit with these puppies and he's taken advantage of this good nature."
Neil Douglas, mitigating, told the court that Nixon's Labrador had become pregnant and given birth to eight puppies.
His client quickly realised there was a demand for the puppies, which he offered up for sale at below their market value.
Nixon was addicted to cocaine and seized on the idea of "selling" the puppies to solve his financial problems.
Mr Douglas said: "He pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity. He has spent the last year or so trying to put right the fundamental problems. He's rid himself of his cocaine use. He is now being medicated for his depression.
"He realises that what he did is wrong and he's trying his best to make sure that that sort of situation will not happen again, when he's tempted towards dishonesty."
Mr Douglas highlighted that his client had been out of trouble since 2015 and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Deputy District Judge Arlegh Davies told Nixon that his crimes had a significant impact on the victims.
She sentenced him to an 18 month community order, with 180 hours unpaid work requirement and up to 25 days rehabilitation activity. He must also undertake a thinking skills programme.
Nixon was also ordered to pay £1,797 in compensation, to be deducted from his Universal Credit, to those victims still out of pocket.
Given his limited financial means he will not have to pay anything towards prosecution costs or surcharge.
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