A FRAUDSTER who offered goods on eBay which he did not actually have conned buyers out of more than £7,000.

Liam Pillier, 22, of Hall Lane Estate, in Willington, County Durham, offered an Audi A3 and iPhone 5s for sale on the marketplace website.

He did not actually have the good, but was trying to fleece people to cover his debts.

Pillier pleaded guilty at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court to four charges of fraud by false representation dating from June 22.

Blair Martin, prosecuting, said that Pillier managed to entice one person to offer £6,172 for the Audi A3.

He said the buyer refused to send up the money in advance because he wanted to see the car first.

The buyer travelled to the North-East by train and arranged to meet Pillier but the accused failed to show up.

It meant that the victim had to book into a hotel overnight and he complained to eBay.

The website provided him with another mobile number for the seller. When the victim rang it, Pillier answered and claimed to be a police officer.

Mr Martin said Pillier also managed to get three people to buy iPhones off eBay with two people offering £290 and a third £280.

Some of the buyers had been refunded their money via Playpal but the car buyer was left £250 out of pocket due to travel and accommodation expenses.

Graham Hunsley, mitigating, said that Pillier had been extremely anxious of appearing in court and that the crime was out of character.

He said Pillier had called himself stupid and was cross with himself.

Pillier will do a 100 hour community order and pay £671 compensation plus £85 prosecution costs and a £60 victim surcharge.