A GAMBLING addict has been told he cannot enter any betting shops after pleading guilty to defrauding victims out of several thousand pounds to pay off huge debts.

Jamie Symonds, 25, of Chestnut Avenue, Swindon, put adverts on a number of online sites to sell his mobile phone but then would not send it to buyers despite taking their money.

Yesterday, Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard that at least eight people paid a sum totalling more than £2,200 for the phone, yet never received it.

In the months leading up to the incident the engineering student regularly frequented betting shops and built up a debt of £10,000.

After admitting the crime, Symonds was ordered to pay each of the customers back and was handed a one-year community order.

The fraud happened during April and May this year and involved Symonds placing adverts for his iPhone 6 on a number of websites, including eBay, Gumtree, Wallapop and Preloved.

At least one of the buyers believed they were buying more than one phone so ended up paying Symonds more than £500.

However, the con was rumbled when one of the victims discovered there were adverts on multiple sites and contacted the police.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, said: “This has had a big effect on everyone concerned, many who feel they will no longer be able to shop online again.

“In his victim statement, one describes how he feels completely let down. He trusted him and has now lost £300.

“Another is a student who says the £50 he lost has a big impact as he does not have much money.”

When he started the ruse, Symonds had not accepted he had an addiction which was rapidly spiralling out of control.

Defending him, Wayne Hardy said: “He first went online with the intention of selling his phone but it generated so much interest he had the idea to carry out this deception to pay his debt.

“It was not a well thought out plan by any means and there was little doubt he would be caught.

“He admitted his guilt straight away and this incident has made him realise just how serious his gambling problem is.

“He is addressing this issue and has not been into a betting shop since July, even going into one asking them to ban him.”

Chairman of magistrates Jonathan Chappell said he was close to jailing Symonds for his crime but instead imposed the community order.

As well as banning him from all betting shops for a year and ordering him to repay his victims, Symonds must also carry out 60 days of community service and attend a rehabilitation course.