Kijiji rental property scammer pleads guilty again in Calgary court

While Patrick Miller was underhouse arrestfor scamming prospective renters out of their damage deposits hescammed a prospective renter out of his damage deposit.

The serial scam artistpleaded guilty to another fraud charge on Thursday, bringing his total number of victims in the last severalyears to 14.

Miller is known for offering to rent aproperty112 Windermere Rd. S.W. on Kijiji andcollecting a damage deposit from interested renters.

But Miller never let them move in,citing emergency renovations.

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In this latest case, Miller refused to return the victim's money until the manthreatened to go to police. But it turns out, the chequeMiller provided the interested renter was no good.

"I am sorry about all this," said Miller in court."To be honest, I didn't even know the cheque bounced."

In January2014, Miller pleaded guilty to a fraud involving 13 victims between June and July 2011. In September2014, CBC News published a story after several people complained Miller had taken money from them but never allowed them to move in.

Miller has been in custody since December whenpolice allege he breached the conditions of his previous sentence, which required him to obey a curfew and to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

Defence lawyer, Andrea Urquharttold the judge Miller had a gambling problem at the time of his crime and that his finances "spiraled" out of control.

Three other fraud charges were withdrawn by Crown prosecutor Darren Maloney on Thursday.

The judge accepted Maloney and Urquhart's proposal ofa 60-day sentence on the latest fraud charge as well as a year of probation. He must also pay his victim back $2,700.

"He is anxious and willing to pay the victim back," saidUrquhart.

His five breach charges will be dealt with in February.