A man tried to sell the house he was renting in an 'almost unbelievable' crime.
Andrew Smith, 41, has now been jailed for two-and-a half years after an innocent buyer almost parted with more than £400,000.
Smith began was renting the three-bed home in Cambridge in February 2020 - and less than two weeks after receiving the keys it appeared for sale online via a fake estate agent company.
A potential buyer was found and a price was agreed. However the victim realised something was not right after visiting the property in June with a drain surveyor and speaking to tenant who didn't think the house was for sale.
The victim contacted police and officers discovered that many documents Smith had provided to the letting agent were fraudulent.
Smith had also made payments, shortly after moving in, to a furniture rental company which supplies furniture for show homes, Cambridgeshire Police said.
Police said Smith was arrested in Bedford and later admitted to fraud by false representation and entering into money laundering.
Smith, of Gardeners Close, Flitwick, Bedford, was sentenced at Brighton Magistrates’ Court to two years and six months in prison at a hearing on Friday.
The defendant had claimed he was moving to the area for work when he began renting the home in Argyle Street.
Detective Constable Dan Harper said: “This is an almost unbelievable and truly brazen crime, which saw an innocent buyer almost part with more than £400,000 for a property that was never for sale in the first place.
“The investigation has been long and detailed and we have worked tirelessly to make sure justice has been served.”
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