A GUMTREE fraudster who conned families by advertising non-existent caravan holidays was jailed.

Jessica Scutt, 27, placed the adverts, including photos of a caravan on the classified website then pocketed their cash after she was threatened with eviction.

One hard-up family turned up at a Pembrokeshire seaside resort with their five children after paying Scutt £220 only to find out the caravan was not at the camp site, Caerphilly Magistrates' Court heard.

Scutt, of Pontgam Terrace, Ynysddu, was jailed for eight months yesterday after she pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud.

Another nine offences were taken into consideration.

Magistrate Ronald Coldbourne told her: "I must say this is some of the most despicable cases I have come across for fraud. I'm absolutely appalled.

"For all the pain you have caused families, I hope you will have time to think about this over the next few months."

Scutt went arranged fictitious holidays at locations dotted around the country, with events and even gym membership, prosecutor Mark Salter said.

Mr Salter said: "A family with five children aged ten, seven, six, two and one went on Gumtree on July 16 and saw an enticing advert in Pendine, which was £160 a week plus a £60 deposit.

"The children had never been on a holiday previously. The advert appeared to be quite enticing and the deal quite plausible.

"The family did not have a lot of money to spare. £220 is a lot of money and after discussing it agreed to the holiday and also showed gratitude for arranging the holiday."

Mum-of-five Serena Killen told police how she was left upset, stressed and at times sleepless after falling for one of her cons last July.

The family exchanged e-mails with Scutt, who agreed to let them take the children and their dog to stay in a caravan at Pendine Sands, Carmarthen Bay.

Ms Killen described her as cruel after arriving at the camp site and discovering they had wired the money for nothing, the court was told.

Mr Salter said police eventually traced Scutt through an e-mail address she left with a victim.

Defence solicitor Gareth Williams said his client thought up the scheme after being threatened with eviction last year.

The fraud allowed her to put down money for another property, but she stopped of her own accord after realising she was depriving families of modest income, Mr Williams said.

Scutt admitted three charges of fraud relating to the caravan holidays during July 2012.

She also admitted a separate fraud charge for having conned a woman out of £60 by putting clothes for sale on Facebook on June 15, 2012.

Scutt was jailed for two months for each charge, to run consecutively, and was ordered to pay £2,575 compensation to her victims.

ENDS