A fraudster sought out his victims on Facebook Marketplace then purchased high value goods from them using fake money.
Babo Habiballa was whisked away by a getaway driver after purchasing the iPhones and PlayStation 5 with forged £50 notes. He then crashed into a tree following a high speed chase with police.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Wednesday, that the 20-year-old and unidentified accomplices set up decoy profiles on the social networking site to contact three separate sellers. Frank Dillon, prosecuting, described how Habiballa met up with them and used "good quality" false cash during transactions totalling nearly £2,000.
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He then fled in a waiting getaway car on two dates a week apart in February and March this year. The fake accounts were subsequently deleted.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle used in the con a further seven days later at around 5pm on March 12. Habiballa, of Adcote Road in Dovecot, was behind the wheel of the silver Vauxhall Astra but drove off at "high speeds" through 20mph and 30mph zones on the streets of Toxteth.
During an ensuing pursuit, he ran two red lights and drove into oncoming traffic - forcing other motorists to take evasive action. But the swindler crashed into tree on Princes Road after losing control while attempting to execute a turn.
Habiballa, who has no previous convictions, was found to have no licence and refused to cooperate with roadside breathalyser test. Olivia Beesley, defending, described how her client's parents died when he was only two before he came to the UK with his auntie aged 13 and was subjected to bullying at school.
She added: "These offences are undeniably appalling. He has had a slow development in his maturity.
"He is sorry for what happened. He hopes the court will give him an opportunity to learn from his mistakes and mature."
Habiballa admitted three counts of fraud, dangerous driving, failing to provide a sample to police, obstructing police, driving without a licence and driving without insurance and was jailed for 10 months. He was banned from driving for 20 months and must pass an extended retest.
Sentencing, Judge Dennis Watson KC described the fraud as "sophisticated, planned group offending" and said: "It seems you and other identified people advertising high value items such as PlayStations and iPhones and contacted them using a fake profile, deliberately set up to try and obscure and hinder the prospect of being detected. The use of forged currency undermines the whole fabric of commerce and life in this country.
"Any police pursuit brings with it heightened risks that innocent road users - whether they be in cars, on bicycles or pedestrians - will be injured. It is by mere chance that no-one was seriously hurt or killed.
"I bear in mind the fact you are only 20, that you are someone without previous convictions, your immaturity and that you have expressed a degree of remorse. These are offences that are so serious that the only appropriate punishment is immediate custody."
Habiballa was also told to pay a victim surcharge. The forfeiture and destruction of fake bank notes seized was ordered.
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