Frederic Priestley, a 34-year-old fraudster from Southwark, has had his prison sentence reduced by the Court of Appeal after he swindled more than 30 victims out of nearly £77,500 in a rental scam. The court cut his jail term from two years and 11 months to two years but declined to suspend the sentence.
Details of the scam
Priestley was originally jailed in June after conning victims by falsely advertising a London flat on Facebook between April and September 2025. He provided fake tenancy agreements and collected deposits and rent payments for a property he did not own. The scam affected dozens of people, including international students who were unable to secure alternative housing, while some other victims were denied compensation by their banks.
Court of Appeal ruling
At the Court of Appeal, barristers argued that Priestley's sentence should be reduced and suspended due to his gambling addiction. Lady Justice Andrews, sitting with Mrs Justice McGowan and Mr Justice Hilliard, said: "Whilst it does not excuse his offending behaviour, (it) provides an explanation for it." The judges found the original judge made "insufficient allowance" for mitigating factors, including Priestley's gambling addiction, which developed following the breakdown of a relationship.
Guilty plea and victim impact
Priestley was arrested on October 9, 2025, and pleaded guilty in April to one count of fraud by false representation. Lady Justice Andrews noted that Priestley had confessed to some of his victims before his arrest. In one message, he wrote: "I am a gambling addict, and during the time that you viewed the apartment and paid in advance, I was having a major relapse resulting in me gambling tens of thousands of pounds. I'm ashamed and sad about what I've done. I don't ask for your sympathy, but I do want to tell you how sorry I am." The reduced sentence means Priestley will now serve two years in prison, with the court declining to suspend the term despite the mitigating circumstances.
