A former bailiff who illegally pocketed £27,000 in debt collections before embarking on a scam to swindle students out of accommodation deposits has been jailed.

Soloman Rajput, 24, appeared in the dock at Isleworth Crown Court alongside his wife, 23-year-old Salma Kausar, after the pair pleaded guilty to a string of fraud charges.

Rajput, of Unwin Road, Isleworth, was told he would spend a year behind bars last Friday for fraud offences in Hounslow and Leeds. Kausar escaped a prison sentence after playing a lesser role in a Leeds-based property con.

Rajput’s crimes began while he worked as a bailiff for Hounslow Council between October and December 2008, while employed by debt collection agency Rossendales.

Prosecuting, James O’Connell said: “It became apparent after a certain amount of time had gone by that he was collecting money from those that owed it but was not paying it into the company as he should have done.”

In a two-month period, Rajput raked in £27,092.40 from unsuspecting payees. He has since paid back £8,000.

Six months later, in June, 2009, Rajput signed a tenancy agreement for a property in Leeds. He pinched deposits totalling £3,764.60 from five tenants. In statements read to the court, his victims said they were “left homeless”.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Tim Williams said: “He does accept responsibility and I would suggest that these offences were unsophisticated and incredibly stupid.”

Mr Williams explained the crimes were committed because of “money worries” and stressed Rajput had a “positive work history”. He asked Judge Ronald Moss to take into account his guilty plea, the effect a jail-term would have on his wife and Rajput’s “considerable upset” at being separated from their four-month-old child.

Representing Kausar, Simon Alexander said she played a “more passive role” in the Leeds offences - being present on occasions and once receiving a deposit into her bank account.

He said: “She’s described as being deeply in love with her new husband, if ever there were a classic case of love being blind your honour perhaps this was one of them.

“She was clearly aware of what was going on and should have been asking questions but wasn’t.”

Jailing Rajput, Judge Moss described a pre-sentence report which recommended giving the fraudster a 24-month community penalty as “inappropriate”.

He ordered Rajput to serve four months in prison for each of the five counts, to be served concurrently. He added an additional eight months for the “more serious” abuse of trust in Isleworth.

Judge Moss said there was “no point” in ordering compensation in light of the sentence and Rajput’s inability to pay.

For her role, Judge Moss sentenced Kausar to a 12-month supervision order and three-month curfew order, banning her from leaving her home between 7.30pm and 7am.

A council spokesman said: “The offences took place across a number of boroughs, and were quickly discovered.

“Bailiffs are contracted by Liberata and operate under a strict code of practice.

“The council has not suffered any loss as a result of this case.”