A TEENAGE swindler who made nearly £46,000 by conning people on Internet site e-bay and led a jetset lifestyle on the proceeds was locked up today.

In October, Phillip Percival Shortman, aged 18, formerly of Chester Close, New Inn, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to 21 counts of obtaining property by deception amounting to £16,105.

He asked the court to take a further 63 offences into consideration amounting to £29,770.

Shortman, who was 18 on Monday, was sentenced to 12 months' detention in a young offenders' institution and training by a judge at Cardiff crown court today.

Judge Roderick Denyer, QC, said: "You were warned as long ago as October 2003 and you ignored the warnings. You persisted in pursuing a course of criminal conduct over a year. The public has a right to protection from people like you."

Judge Denyer said Shortman's behaviour "rather suggests a sublime contempt for the law".

Prosecutor Stuart McLeese told the court Shortman committed the offences between October 2003 and September 2004.

Mr McLeese described how Shortman, using a variety of names and three bank accounts, advertised items such as computers and mobile phones for sale on the e-bay auction site. Mr McLeese told the court Shortman never owned any of the items he advertised.

The court heard Shortman would pocket the cash after telling victims to pay it into one of the bank accounts. Mr McLeese said the teenager made excuses when buyers telephoned or e-mailed to ask why they hadn't received their goods.

In some cases, Mr McLeese said, Shortman taunted and even threatened victims. He said in one case: "Ha, ha you've been done." And Mr McLeese said Shortman told another victim: "This is my business, I make people fools."

He admitted to police he had rented limos, enjoyed overseas holidays and bought designer clothes.

Lawrence Jones, defending, told the court Shortman had been shunned in his community. He said Shortman "lacked the social skills to make friends" and "lavished" cash on people in a bid to win popularity.