A fraudster posed as an estate agent in a bid to fleece a young family out of hundreds of pounds.

Conman Michael Tutt, 40, used a pseudonym and designed a website under the guise of a legitimate property business to scam £425 from a couple.

The pair were seeking a new house to rent in May 2022 when a home in Chandler’s Ford caught their eye, Southampton Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

Prosecuting, Keely Harvey told the court how the pair contacted the private landlord who advertised the property and spoke with estate agent ‘Mark Matheson’ – who was in fact the defendant.

READ MORE: Drug runner sold cocaine to undercover cop in Southampton

He requested a £425 holding fee which was transferred to him, before a date was set to meet and sign the tenancy.

But the defendant left the couple high and dry at the arranged meeting place in Costa Coffee, and ignored their countless phone calls.

Ms Harvey said they became "increasingly concerned" and began carrying out their own research into the defendant, discovering he was not a real estate agent.

Ms Harvey said: “The victim and his sister decided to go to the property itself and it was not empty.

“The occupants confirmed the lease was not up to be renewed.

“The victim then reported the incident to his bank and the police.”

READ MORE: Cruel rogue trader fleeced more than 50 customers out of £642,000

The couple attempted to corner Tutt by inviting him to their house and then calling the police.

But Tutt got wind of the plan and ran out the back door, jumping over fences to escape and losing his mobile phone in the process.

After the phone was handed to the police, several messages which had been sent to victims regarding properties were discovered

When apprehended and interviewed by police, Tutt ‘spontaneously’ told officers: “I am going to admit the offences.”

Tutt, of Gibb Lane in Worcestershire, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by misrepresentation.

Mitigating, Paul Patterson said Tutt has demonstrated a high level of remorse for his actions – committed during a period of unemployment.

He said: “The family wanted to move away from the area but neither Tutt nor his partner were working, which is when he offended.

“This is someone who is trying to rehabilitate himself and he is actively pursuing getting back into employment.”

READ NEXT: Council responds after former employee jailed for fraud

Passing sentence, Judge Nicholas Rowland said: “You were trying to get money from a couple with a scam you have done before.

“But it clearly doesn’t work as you end up in prison.

“There is no prospect of rehabilitation in this case. This is so serious it can only be met with an immediate sentence.”

Tutt was handed a 10-month prison sentence and ordered to repay the £425 to the couple by May.