Fraudster jailed after £113k property losses

Jason Cunningham's victims lost a total of at least £113,000, investigators said

A fraudster has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after swindling money from people who thought they were investing in property.

Jason Cunningham, of Cardigan, Wales, was jailed at Reading Crown Court on Friday following a trial in the summer.

The 39-year-old ran multiple property sourcing businesses from Craven Road in Newbury, Berkshire, where he persuaded 15 customers to pay non-refundable fees on properties but many deals collapsed and refunds were refused.

He used forged documents, tenancy agreements and a WhatsApp message to mislead victims and landlords to the tune of at least £113,000, West Berkshire Council said.

Tom McCann, the council's portfolio holder for public safety, said Cunningham's 15 victims had "suffered significant financial harm and stress since the fraud took place".

Ian Wright, who led the investigation into the offending, said "profit and greed" were central to his criminality.

Cunningham was earlier found guilty of two counts of fraudulent trading and five counts of using a false instrument in August following a nine-week trial.

He was previously convicted of unfair trading in 2015, the council said.