Conman who targeted five-star hotels jailed for 34 months
A conman has been jailed for nearly three years for ripping off several five-star hotels in the West Country including Calcot Manor and Lucknam Park during a five-day crime spree.
James Hyett , 27, from Bristol, was jailed for 34 months after admitting charges of false representation and making off without payment when he appeared before Bristol Crown Court this week.
Hotels defrauded by Hyett in his five-day crime spree in March included the Aztec West in Bristol; Calcot Manor near Tetbury; Lucknam Park hotel, Bath; the MacDonald Bath Spa hotel; the Grange at Winterbourne; and the Marriott in Bristol.
In addition to not paying for meals and accommodation, Hyett also entertained his girlfriend with champagne, flowers and luxury beauty treatments, racking up a total bill of more than £5,000 during his crime binge.
In mitigation, it was said that Hyett had been trying to keep up the appearance of a successful businessman after running into financial difficulties.
But jailing him, recorder Barry Cotter QC, said : "I sentence you for a spree of dishonesty in the spring of 2009. This was persistent, deliberate and a brief life of considerable extravagance at the cost of others, targeting exclusive hotels."
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By Andrew Smith
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