Fraudster told dodgy Rolex to fund his New York holiday

Elliss Cross “behaved like a petty villain” when he posted the fake watch on eBay.

He sold it on the same day to a man in Hadleigh on April 29, 2019.

The Rolex had a genuine box and certificate with it, but the watch itself was a fake.

The 29-year-old’s victim, who lives in Hadleigh, realised soon after he paid £7,000 for the watch that the registration numbers on the box and watch did not match up, and took it to Rolex’s head office in London, which confirmed it was fake.

The victim contacted Cross, of Concord Road, Canvey, and asked for a refund.

Cross gave him £500 back and agreed to pay back £350 per month.

However, this did not happen and Cross went on a trip to New York and could not be reached.

The police became involved, and this led to Cross going to the victim’s home in November 2019 and intimidating his wife over the investigation.

Cross admitted fraud and witness intimidation and was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

David Stanton, prosecuting, told the court Cross has so far paid back £5,000 to the victim but £1,900 was outstanding.

David Burgess, mitigating, said: “He was a plasterer but then he got into gambling and it all went wrong.

“He promised his girlfriend a trip to New York but he didn’t have the money so that’s where the fraud came into it.”

Recorder Charlie Sherrard QC told Cross: “In this case you behaved like a petty villain and it’s a distinctly unattractive feature.

“You did rip them off and they made enquiries to sort things out.

“You made a promise to them in the face of police intervention that you would pay £350 a month but there was no intention to go through with it.

“The police gave you an opportunity to resolve it amicably but you didn’t, you went on a fling to New York.”

Cross received a 14 month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours unpaid work and must pay the remaining £1,900 in compensation. He was also given a two-year restraining order against the victim.