A woman lost £9,000 when money she paid for building work was diverted to a criminal’s account.

Nicole Lowry was sent bank account details via email purportedly coming from builder Les Talbot but the money never arrived.

Instead it was diverted to fraudster Daryl Lee-Jarman, 30, of Clovelly Road, Whitstable.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that the builders’ details had probably been stolen during a burglary at his premises.

Lee-Jarman denied received the money but Judge James O’Mahony did not believe him. However, he awarded no compensation saying it was not “a realistic prospect”.

The judge told him: “Ms Lowry has lost everything. She is the real victim in this case and you richly deserve to go to prison.”

Lee-Jarman admitted his part in the scam and received a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to remain indoors from 9pm to 5 am for the next four months.

His criminal past included receiving a police caution for ripping off his mother by illegally using her bank card.

Prosecutor Paul Valder said Ms Lowry had engaged the builder in March last year to carry out work at her home.

“She received an initial invoice by email allegedly from Mr Talbot. Then other emails followed instructing her to pay money through a particular bank with a number and sort code in the name of Mr Talbot.

“Believing it to be genuine, she made two bank transfers of £5100 and then £4000.” She contacted Mr Talbot who said he had not sent the email.

Lee-Jarman claimed he was approached by men to offer his account to receive some money.

He was then ‘escorted’ to a cash machine to withdraw the stolen money with a “heavy” standing next to him.