A rental fraudster who conned would-be tenants in Central London out of almost £80,000 has been jailed for nearly three years.
Frederic James Priestley, 34, defrauded more than 30 victims when he advertised a flat to rent online in Southwark, but never followed through with the rental agreements.
The Old Bailey heard that between April and September 2025, Priestley advertised the flat to rent on a Facebook housing group, falsely claiming it was available. Priestley, of Leathermarket Court, Southwark, emailed prospective tenants online, provided tenancy agreements to sign, and requested deposits and rent payments to be transferred to accounts he controlled.
He would then fob off the victims with excuses why they couldn't move in, when in fact he didn't own the flat and it was never available to rent.
On Friday, June 12, Priestley was sentenced for two years and 11 months in prison for fraud by false representation, after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing in April.
A total of 34 separate reports were submitted to Action Fraud throughout last year, each relating to the same rental property. As a result, the reports were linked and the case was formally referred to the Met Police in September 2025, where it was assigned to specialist officers within the Economic Crime Team.
As part of the investigation, officers carried out detailed financial enquiries into Priestley's activities, uncovering a systematic pattern of fraudulent offending.
Significant payments were identified being made into his bank accounts between March and September 2025 from victims, with total receipts exceeding £77,000. Victims were targeted via social media and encouraged to transfer funds - typically ranging between £800 and £2,000 - under the guise of deposits and associated fees.
Priestley was arrested on Thursday, October 9, in relation to the allegations. Mobile phone records supported the investigation, alongside victim statements.
Detective Constable Abimbola Emiola said: "Priestley exploited people who were simply looking for somewhere to live, using convincing paperwork and false reassurances to make his scheme appear legitimate.
"This was not an isolated incident, but a sustained fraud carried out over many months, affecting dozens of victims and causing significant financial and emotional distress.
"This sentence demonstrates that we will pursue those who abuse online platforms to commit fraud.
"We encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim to report it as soon as possible."
