A MAN convicted of fraud after trying to embark on a massive spending spree is being hunted by police.

Robert Doughty, 19, lived a life of luxury in Rayleigh, by convincing banks he had inherited a multi-million pound fortune, when in fact he was a £15,000-a-year bank clerk.

The teenager failed to show up for a court appearance yesterday, after breaching his community order, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the telephone numbers and addresses he provided to the court had proved useless. Defence, probation and Crown Prosection Service staff had been unable to contact him.

Doughty fooled neighbours and finance experts.

He even tricked his former girlfriend into thinking he was a rich member of the aristocracy when he was just 17.

He moved into the grand Colonial House, in High Road, Rayleigh, and made purchases with dodgy cheques, including ordering a £108,000 Mercedes car and embarking on a £500,000 spending spree at Harrods.

The teenager is registered at two addresses, one in Thamesmead, South London, and at the mansion in Rayleigh. The mansion allegedly has a monthly rent of £3,000, but it is not known where the teenager is permanently based.

Doughty was ordered to do 100 hours of community service in June last year, after admitting exposing the banks to a risk of loss.

In July, it was revealed he had completed just three-and-a-half hours of the order, although the time limit was subsequently extended because of doubt over which probation office he should have been attending.