A bogus landlord left families homeless after callously stealing deposits on homes he falsely advertised for rent, a court heard.
Hussan Malik, pictured, who was jailed for two years, fobbed off would-be tenants with a series of excuses to delay them discovering the scam - including falsely claiming his daughter had died from meningitis, his wife had miscarried or been diagnosed with "tumours," his father had passed-away or refurbishment was still underway.
Malik (41), a former teacher, admitted fraudulently conning 19 victims, who saw his adverts on the Gumtree website, between October 2014 and January 2015. He claimed to have two Leicester properties available for rent, in Cardinals Walk and Maidenwell Avenue – when he was in fact renting them himself. After viewing the properties, victims were collectively duped out of £13,450 – of which £970 was only refunded. Some of the victims had also paid the first month's rent up-front and were left without funds to arrange alternative accommodation. Malik, had just £200 on him when he was arrested which was confiscated by the court – to be refunded to Soldiers off the Streets. It is unlikely losers will get any money back.
Sarah Cornish, mitigating, said the defendant, a father of four, had since received in-patient treatment for mental health difficulties and his marriage had "completely broken down." Miss Cornish said the defendant was on anti-depressants and receiving weekly assistance from a social services support worker and a community psychiatric nurse.
