A Seend man, saddled with £185,000 of debt, conned an eBay buyer out of £500 by advertising a car part he did not have.

John King, 50, of Baldham, who has now been declared bankrupt, admitted fraud by false representation after taking money for the Volvo XC70 gearbox through the auction website on May 10.

Last Thursday, North West Wiltshire Magistrates’ Court heard he had intended to buy a second-hand car he had seen advertised and take it apart, but was unable to after it sold for £4,000 rather than the £300 he had expected.

Helene Gibbs, defending, said: “He has had a great deal of financial difficulties, which he is trying to sort out.

“He used to have a very successful business, but, for reasons beyond his control, it collapsed.”

He had a wife and three children to support and was due to be evicted.

Magistrates ordered King to pay back £500, plus a £60 victim surcharge, and do 60 hours of unpaid work.