Bogus landlord who conned tenants faces sentencing for fraud

Liam Gambino, 27, of Westlea, Clowne, was caught offering to rent a property on Malthouse Road, at Whitwell, which he did not own and had no right to let, according to Chesterfield magistrates’ court.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop told a previous court hearing in May that Gambino and his partner had moved into the Malthouse Road property which was owned by someone else and was in a state of disrepair and Gambino claimed they were allowed to live there if he carried out repairs.

Mrs Allsop explained that Gambino’s two fraud victims had spotted the address being rented on Facebook and one paid rent up front with a deposit and the other was also asked for rent and a deposit which she arranged to pay by bank transfer.

Gambino told police he had pretended to be the property owner. The defendant also explained to police he had not intended to defraud Mr Wood and following the second offence he had kept the money because his partner was expecting twins and he had a large council tax bill to pay. He also apologised for what he had done but said he was in a difficult financial position.