WHEN Phillip Shortman was sentenced to 12 months youth custody at Cardiff crown court in May, Judge Roderick Denyer, QC, told him his behaviour suggested a "sublime contempt for the law".

Shortman admitted to detectives he developed a taste for the "high life" and he "got a buzz" from his conning spree.

During his sentencing, he was described as a loner who "lacked the social skills to make friends".

His barrister Laurence Jones told the court in May the troubled teenager used the cash he conned out of people for bogus goods to "buy" friends. "Most people who jumped on the bandwagon have now deserted him," said Mr Jones.

The court heard how Shortman used to taunt some of his victims. In one case he said: "Ha, ha you've been done", while he told another victim: "This is my business, I make people fools."

He pleaded guilty to 21 counts of obtaining property by deception between October 2003 and September 2004 and asked for 63 further offences to be taken into consideration.

Prosecutor Stuart McLeese said Shortman had continued to re-offend after he was arrested and bailed in January 2004.

As well as using the money to fund a luxury holiday, Shortman loved to dress in designer gear and expensive jewellery.