A FRAUDSTER caught scamming people out hundreds of pounds after not posting out electrical goods to punters has been ordered to pay back the ill-gotten gains.

Martyn Allan, 27, plead guilty to eight fraud charges committed from his address in Cheviot Way, Irvine, using a series of false names including Eric, Alastair and Shannon.

Allan agreed to sell a mobile phone for £460 and accepted payment through a bank transfer – then failed to provide the phone in 2017.

He admitted agreeing to sell a laptop to two individuals for £550 – again inducing payment without providing the laptop between January1 and January 30, 2018.

Under another false name, he agreed to sell a mobile phone for £400 and again taking the money without delivering the phone.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court

He admitted scamming another man out of £630 after agreeing to provide another mobile phone without sending it on January 21 2018.

He scammed another couple out of £400 for another phone between April 1 and April 7 the same year – this time going under yet another identity.

He struck again on April 13 and April 16 agreeing he would sell a mobile phone for £300 and stealing a £100 deposit from one victim and taking £410 from another.

With another name on August 28, 2018, he took another customer’s £450 without delivering the phone.

Not guilty pleas to a further seven charges on the complaint were accepted by prosecutors.

When Allan returned to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week [Monday, March 8] he was ordered to pay compensation order of £3,400 towards the victims.

He will also have to wear a tag and remain at home in the evenings as part of a restriction of liberty order for 10 weeks.

Any information on fraud or any criminality can be reported to Police Scotland on 101 – in an emergency always dial 999.

You can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling them on 0800 555 111.