Yahoo Finance Man rented out ex-girlfriend's flat to fund a holiday
A Welsh man has been found guilty of advertising his ex-girlfriend's apartment for rent and then pocketing the deposits from victims.
WalesOnline reported Phillip Allman broke up with Lucy Sharp in December, but when things didn't work out with his new partner, Sharp allowed him to stay in her Cardiff flat temporarily.
Allman then took advantage of the generosity, the Cardiff Crown Court heard, by listing the apartment on Gumtree and taking applications from people who wanted to rent it.
All up he took £2,000 (AU$3,700) from three different victims then "abruptly" left the flat in June.
Sharp only knew about the fraud when the partner of one of the victims showed up at her doorstep.
"The court can only imagine the consequences for Ms Sharp had the defendant’s victims been less understanding," said prosecutor Tom Roberts.
Sharp was then given three months notice by her landlord and was forced to move out in September.
Allman claimed to police that Sharp knew about the scam, which the court found was false.
He also claimed he was depressed and used the money from victims to fund a trip to the Cyprus holiday town of Ayia Napa.
In court, Allman pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud in breach of a suspended sentence from previous offences. He was sentenced to prison for 12 months.
“The offences for which I have to deal with you are really mean and underhand offences of dishonesty," said Judge Michael Fitton QC.
"You were fortunate enough to have a generous friend. You abused her friendship and trust to cheat people out of money."
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