A man who took more than £10,000 from prospective south London tenants for flats he couldn’t legally let has been convicted of fraud.

James Bennett, of no fixed address, was found guilty of 17 counts of fraud at Inner London Crown Court in his absence.

The 32-year-old took up to £725 from each of the people who were desperate for accommodation, racking up more than £10,000 in total.

One victim was forced to live in a hostel as a result of his crimes, while another was made homeless.

Bennett made numerous listings on Spareroom.com between late 2015 and December last year, advertising rooms at four separate properties in Brixton, Walworth, Elephant and Castle and Tooting.

Although he was arrested in November 2016, he initially denied the offences, but when confronted with further evidence in May this year he confessed to police in an interview.

Now police have issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear before judges on December 13.

Bennett will be sentenced on December 15 at the same court.

He is said to a very tall white male with ginger hair, standing at 6ft 7in, with a "very posh" southern English accent.

He is known to have connection to south-east London and Winchester.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DS Adam Clifton at Southwark CID on 07747 765 719, or via Twitter @MetCC.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.