Jail for man who stole deposits in fake rental scam

“It’s a very serious offence,” said Judge Stephanie Goggins, sentencing a man who illegally advertised a room in his apartment for rent before duping potential clients out of security deposits and in some cases rent. “In some cases these were people from abroad, coming to this country looking for a better life, but he took their hard earned and hard got money.”

Norbert Gano (30) who has 70 previous convictions including for theft, and is currently serving a custodial sentence, pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing Josef Novak into handing over a €500 security deposit for a room he advertised for rent when living at 59 Hampton Court, Cootehill Road, Cavan Town, on March 19, 2024.

He did this despite the landlord having previously served a notice of eviction on the defendant. As part of his initial lease agreement, Gano was also prohibited from sub-letting the property.

Less than a week later, March 23, Gano took a month’s rent worth €1,000 from Ahmed Zani in a similar ruse; another €1,000 from Aouzbellah Omar Kaled; and a further €500 from Glenn Jennings via Revolut the following month, on April 4.

The court heard that Gano, who also has an address at 106 College Street, Cavan Town, had advertised the room for rent online. He introduced himself to unwitting home hunters as the landlord and, once they paid the security deposit on the property, cut ties and never paid the money back.

“The room was not available,” Sergeant Damien Galligan stated, informing the court that an eviction notice had been served on the accused.

In total Gano, who was represented by solicitor Damien Rudden, made off with €3,000. Judge Goggins was told there was “little chance” of getting the money back.

In mitigation, Mr Rudden said his client, a father of one, had been in a relationship but this had ended. He stated that Gano had developed a gambling addiction, and this was a factor in the break-up.

The money was stolen by Gano, who wrote a letter which was handed into Judge Goggins, in order to “fund his habit”.

“I’m very unimpressed with this,” stated the judge, who handed Gano a one-month sentence on each of the four charges to be served consecutively, and back dated to when he first went into custody.

Legal aid was granted.