A fraudster who worked for a letting agent for just two weeks and admitted stealing from the firm has escaped jail.
Riccardo Iampietro went to work for Homelife Lettings in Southampton last November.
He would show people around homes, take a deposit, fees and advance rent, and pocket the money himself.
Police interviewed him under caution, but did not inform the Crown Prosecution Service.
At that time, the CPS was preparing its case for two other fraud-related offences, both relating to cars, for which Iampietro went on to receive two two-year suspended sentences to run concurrently.
At Southampton Crown Court, Judge Rowland said he could not guess if the earlier judge would have jailed Iampietro had he known about the latest case.
Instead, he told Iampietro – who turned up at court with a bag – he would have to decide the case on its merits.
The judge heard that Iampietro, who had 12 previous convictions, had a gambling habit.
He had repaid most of the money stolen from Homelife Lettings, with the £2,315 that he was being prosecuted for still outstanding.
Judge Rowland handed him an 18-month suspended sentence and ordered him to do 200 hours of community service.
He told Iampietro: “You are perhaps rather fortuitous to avoid a custodial sentence, but you now have a three and a half year suspended sentence hanging over your head.”
EYE has approached Homelife for comment.
Comments (3)
It’s Iampietro, by the way – wiv an ‘i’ not an ‘l’…
12 previous convictions..M’Lud I don’t think a suspended sentence will worry him. Another reminder for all to get references, as if they are not forthcoming they can sometimes say as much as those that do. Don’t be frightened to ring up as well. I did this once and it saved me a huge problem…that and the individuals Facebook page which showed him outside court..ironically that was in Southampton as well.
ha,, the name Riccardo Lampietro might have got me…
Real name
Bet his real name is Richard Lampett ?