A rogue operator who conned unsuspecting would-be renters after fraudulently advertising properties to rent online has been handed a suspended sentence.

Gullriaz Tajpuri, 49, used online buy-and-sell platform Facebook Marketplace to advertise two properties in Sneinton and Basford, in Nottingham, which he had no involvement with.

In 2021, he accepted bogus deposits from five families totalling more than £3,000, which left one couple homeless.

Nottinghamshire Police said Tajpuri had given his victims a virtual tour before they agreed to rent a three-bedroom property from him in the lead-up to Christmas.

He demanded and accepted £695 deposits from four people and £350 from a fifth victim, before one of them, a 30-year-old woman, reported the scam to the police.

A man in his 40s, the second person to fall victim to Tajpuri’s scam, told the court he and his wife were left homeless and had to borrow money to buy a trailer tent to live in.

After pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation, Tajpuri was sentenced to 13 months in jail, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to undertake 180 hours of unpaid work.

Det Con Harminder Rai-Mottram, who led the investigation, said: “Tajpuri is a callous fraudster who inflicted financial hardship and enormous misery to a number of families in the lead up to Christmas.

“His crimes took place during the Covid pandemic, causing the victims to endure additional distress during an already turbulent time.”