A SERIAL conman from Pendle has avoided a prison sentence after a court heard he now appeared to be running a legitimate firm.

Akbar Ullah, 36, has served a number of prison sentences over the past five years after alternately running a bogus claims call centre and then cheating customers out of cash for computer software that failed to materialise.

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After his most recent conviction, for selling false debt management ‘leads’, Judge Beverley Lunt allowed him six months to see if he could rehabilitate himself.

Defence counsel Mark Stuart told Burnley Crown Court that his client now ran a debt solutions company, which employed seven people, and he had kept out of trouble.

Ullah had also been ordered by Judge Lunt to save as much as he could to compensate his most recent victims, who were left owing £31,325 from his debt management con.

Mr Stuart said the defendant had managed to accumulate £15,000, which he had been forced to take out of the business, but was prepared to offer to meet his obligations.

Ullah, of Leeds Road, Nelson, was given a 20-month prison term, suspended for two years, with the £15,000 compensation order.

Judge Lunt said: “You must understand if you commit any offence then you will serve this 20 months.

“If you also do not pay this compensation you will come back to me and I will not be amused.”