A swindling car salesman tricked his victims into handing over £60,000 for vehicles they would never receive.

James Shoobert convinced those he knew that he had ways of buying vehicles at reduced rates due to the nature of his work in Canterbury.

The 39-year-old told five people between March and August 2022 - all of whom he knew - he would get a car at a cheaper-than-usual price.

They paid him more than £60,000 believing they would get a vehicle, but they did not get a car or refunded.

The offences were reported to police later the same year and Shoobert was charged with multiple counts of fraud the following year.

The Scarborough resident was jailed for two years and four months on Monday after admitting the offences at Canterbury Crown Court.

Investigating officer PC Aimee Gossett said: “Shoobert lied to his victims so that he could defraud them out of considerable amounts of money.

“Kent Police takes reports of fraud very seriously and will always work to bring those behind such offences to justice and attempt to recover losses for victims.”