Serial scammer James Stanley Morcom to spend at least one year in jail over $115,5000 Tassie con job

A CONMAN who fleeced friends and acquaintances of $115,500 will spend at least one year behind bars in Tasmania.

The Supreme Court building in Launceston.

A CONMAN who fleeced friends and acquaintances of $115,500 will spend at least one year behind bars in Tasmania.

Sentencing convicted frauder James Stanley Morcom today in the Launceston Supreme Court, Justice Robert Pearce said the 50-year-old had shown contemptuous disregard for his victims.

Morcom was earlier found guilty of four counts of dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage.

Justice Pearce said Morcom had persuaded one woman to give him $29,000 as a short-term loan and for goods promised.

Another couple gave him $44,000 for a profit-making scheme to import goods from the United States, and two brothers handed over $34,000 and $12,500 as a loan and for goods promised.

“In every case the reason was untrue ... there was no intent to repay. Only $9000 was repaid,’’ Justice Pearce said.

The judge said Morcom was already in prison in Tasmania for similar offences, having been extradited this year from NSW — upon his release on parole from prison in that state, again for similar offences.

He sentenced Morcom to two years in jail.

Morcom will be eligible for parole after serving one year.