SEVEN people fell for an Internet fraud, most of them seeking bargains after responding to overtures from someone using the name Angel Eyes, a court heard yesterday.

It was a scam which netted Garry Jay more than £500 in a matter of days, when he used either his wife's email sign-on or an Internet cafe address, before he tried his luck once too often, Peter Scott, prosecuting told magistrates, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Jay, 48, offered non-existent items, including antiques and DVDs on an Internet auction site and "sold" them to the highest bidder, banking the cheques almost immediately.

Over a ten-day period last July, bidders "bought" seven items he advertised on the eBay website, including Star Trek DVDs, an 18th Century porcelain tea jar and a Wedgwood teapot.

Jay, of Lincoln Grove, Harrogate, had seen lots sold on the auction site and had downloaded written details and photographs of them. He had then used the details to offer the items for sale himself, using either the name Angel Eyes, which had been adopted by his wife, or an Internet cafe address.

He had cheques sent to the couple's home, which was then in Cecil Street, Harrogate.

Mr Scott said Jay's fraud was uncovered when he accepted a dealer's bid of £1,435 for rare Royal Doulton figurines.

Jay pleaded guilty to seven offences of obtaining money by deception and one of attempted deception. He was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid community work and pay compensation of £520.63 and costs of £115.

In mitigation, Geoffrey Rogers said both Jay and his wife were out of work.