A Kent fraudster has been handed an unpaid work order after fleecing people on Facebook.
Thomas Hopkins, 30, of Essetford Road, Ashford, admitted three charges of fraud by false representation when he appeared at Margate Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 3rd August 2023.
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.
Magistrates heard that Hopkins offered garden sheds and furniture for sale on Facebook Marketplace and accepted payment for goods that were never delivered.
Terry Knox, prosecuting, said: "The first instance was on June 8, 2021, when Ms Deavin contacted Mr Hopkins after he advertised on Facebook Marketplace that he can make sheds and deliver them.
"They meet in Starbucks and she hands him an envelope with £800 cash in it."
Later that day the shameless swindler contacted the victim and falsely claimed the envelope was £200 short. He demanded further payment to make up the imaginary shortfall, which resulted in the victim crediting a further £200 to a GoHenry account.
Apparently still unwise to the ruse, the victim sent a further £100 when Hopkins further claimed that the GoHenry payment hadn't gone through.
Mr Gauntlet, a second victim, described in his statement how he had paid Hopkins £150 up-front for some garden furniture. As he was travelling to collect the goods he received a message from Hopkins demanding an extra £150.
Realising it was a scam, Mr Gauntlet sent a reply challenging Hopkins.
"I messaged him to say I knew he was a scammer, but he sent me messages goading me," recalled Mr Gauntlet. "He said: ‘What are you going to do about it? You won't get me, but I got you.'"
Mr Irons, a third victim, gave a similar account, describing how he had paid £100 up-front for non-existent furniture. To rub salt into the wounds, Hopkins had later messaged him to say he was "stupid".
Rob Quinn, mitigating, told the court that his client perpetrated the scam to fund his expensive cocaine habit.
Mr Quinn said: "At this time he started to dabble with cocaine and it developed into a bit of an issue and he also got into gambling."
He told Magistrates that his client used to make good money working for the family tree surgery business, but things took a turn for the worse as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
Hopkins ended up homeless, but now has a stable relationship and works as a manager for the Ashford-based Brakes food company.
According to Mr Quinn, his client has also been clean of drugs for eight months and has quit gambling.
Christopher Mackenney, Presiding Justice, said: "Mr Hopkins, we've seriously considered whether your crimes cross the threshold for a custodial sentence.
"However taking everything into account, we think it doesn't quite reach that level."
Hopkins was handed a 12-month community order with the requirement that he completes 200 hours' unpaid work and up to 25 days' rehabilitation activity.
He was also ordered to pay £1,350 in compensation, £85 towards prosecution costs and £95 surcharge.
Mr Mackenny told him: "It would be good for you to pay as much as you can as fast as you can.
"These individuals have lost their money for more than two years, so they deserve to be compensated quickly."
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