A conman ripped off a TT fan to the tune of £1,210 by offering to rent her bogus accommodation, a court has heard.

Craig Phillip Teare, of Tramman Rise, Anagh Coar, admitted taking the money from a woman in the UK after telling her he was part of the TT homestay scheme.

The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to an offence of fraud by false representation and will be sentenced on June 24 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told magistrates that the woman reported Teare to the police in November 2020.

She said she had booked accommodation from June 5, 2021, to June 12, 2021, after Teare told her he had a place available for £840 which she paid to him.

However, after making the booking the woman said that Teare contacted her on a number of occasions and told her that a homestay representative had visited and told him that some items were required for the property.

He asked her to pay for the items and said he would pay her back.

She said that at first she had declined his requests for additional money but he persisted in asking so she eventually agreed to forward more.

In total she paid £1,210 to him but never received anything back.

After she posted information on the TT Homestay Facebook page about the issue she was contacted by organisers of the scheme saying that Teare was not registered with them.

The woman then decided to give Teare time to pay her back but he never did.

He was eventually arrested and told police he had made efforts to pay her back but no evidence was found of this.

Teare told police the woman had blocked him on Facebook and told him not to contact her.

Ms Braidwood said that Teare has a previous conviction for fraud by false representation in November 2019 as well as ones for theft and handling stolen goods.

Defence advocate Paul Glover asked the magistrates to deal with the latest offence by way of a fine saying this would be an ’eye for an eye’ approach.

The advocate asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty plea and admissions to police during interview.

’He is remorseful,’ said the advocate. ’He did try to contact her on Facebook but was blocked. The most important thing is to get her money back. If he were sent to prison she would be waiting for the money.’

Mr Glover said that Teare had custody of his young daughter who relied on him financially and was currently signed off work with a hand injury.

Magistrates’ chair Michael Murley said that a fine would not be appropriate and ordered that a probation report be prepared which considered all sentencing options, including custody.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500 with a condition to contact probation.