A FRAUDSTER who conned his friends and workmates out of more than £60,000 has been spared jail.

Robert Stubbings, from Hood Manor, told his victims he could source cheap vehicles, electricals and jewellery but pocketed their cash without delivering the goods.

The 48-year-old invented countless excuses for his failure to provide the items, even claiming that his daughter had attempted suicide.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday, November 15, that Stubbings was previously jailed for 45 months in May 2017 for a similar campaign of fraud totalling £126,000.

After this case had concluded, one of the complainants came into the possession of two mobile phones belonging to the defendant – with messages stored on the devices revealing a number of other victims.

In total, Stubbings had targeted another 11 people between April 2015 and April 2017 – swindling them out of £63,695 and continuing his deception after pleading guilty to the previous fraud.

The delivery driver claimed that he had a friend who worked as a bailiff and was able to purchase repossessed high value cars including Range Rovers, Audis and BMWs – as well as jewellery and devices including Playstations, Macbooks, iPads, iPhones and televisions – at a bargain price.

He targeted victims he met at the gym and on a course, old school friends, work colleagues and a tradesman who had carried out work on his house.

One victim is still owed £13,200, another took out a payday loan in order to purchase the goods and a third was conned out of inheritance money.

When a couple did not receive their vehicles on the scheduled delivery date, Stubbings phoned them 'upset and crying' claiming that his daughter had taken an overdose.

A statement from one victim, who lost more than £5,000, read out in court said: "I thought he was my friend.

"He stole our money that we had saved for a family holiday.

"I was angry with myself for being so stupid.

"Not a day goes by that I don't think about this personal attack on me and my family."

Stubbings, of Hood Lane, admitted 12 counts of fraud during an earlier court hearing.

The former bouncer and airport security officer, who was described as a 'model prisoner' before his release in April this year, sat with his head bowed throughout proceedings and appeared to be crying.

Judge Anil Murray handed him a 16-month imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Sentencing, judge Murray said: "You took advantage of people who trusted you.

"But your prison sentence seems to have had a rehabilitative effect on you, and you are not thought to be a risk to the public.

"There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

"For these reasons, I've decided it is possible to suspend this sentence.

"If you breach this order, you and I will meet again and I will send you back to prison."

Stubbings was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and given a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days.

He could be ordered to pay back his ill-gotten gains during a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing in the New Year.