A former captain of Ely City football team who lived an “extravagant lifestyle” on thousands of pounds defrauded from local businesses, including buying six race horses, has been jailed.

Andrew Chatters, 39, of Main Street, Witchford, conned victims by fraudulently obtaining and using credit cards, persuading victims to invest large sums of money and signing credit agreements.

In total he took £87,948.54 from builders merchants, a hotel and for luxury items.

Of that £20,640 was taken from Tattersalls in Newmarket to sign cheques he was not authorised to sign to buy six race horses.

Chatters was found guilty of 13 charges of fraud by false representation and one charge of theft and was sentenced to two years in prison.

The sentence will be added to a three-year sentence which he is currently serving for tax fraud for £69,076.

Detective Constable Paul Atkinson, who investigated, said: “Chatters believed he had a right to sign finance agreements, trade accounts and cheques in other people’s names, claiming that the person had given him authority to do so.

“He had no boundaries to who he would commit fraud against and enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle on other people’s money.

“He would befriend many of his victims with his money-making schemes which included building a stable in Newmarket.

“I would like to thank all involved in these cases for their persistence and patience in getting this complex fraud investigation to court.”

Chatters committed the following offences:

• Tattersalls in Newmarket in 2011 – signing cheques worth £20,640 he was not authorised to sign to buy six race horses.

• Horse Requisites in Newmarket in 2012 – opening a trade account in another person’s name by forging their signature for products worth £2,839.21

• Alan’s Ark in Soham in 2013 – using another person’s credit card to obtain products worth £971.60

• The Cadogen Hotel in Newmarket in 2013 – using another person’s credit card for rooms worth £865.

• Jewsons in Ely in 2013 – opening a trade account in another’s name by forging their signature for products worth £10,276.

• Travis Perkins in Ely in 2013 – opening a trade account in another person’s name by forging their signature for products worth £10,176.73

• Newmarket Plant Hire in 2013 – opening a trade account in another person’s name by forging their signature for products worth £13,400.

• Hiring a Kubota Track Excavator worth £27,000 which has never been returned

• Global Self-drive in Peterborough in 2013 – after hiring a van, sub-renting it without the company’s permission and obtaining £1,360 from the new hirer.

• V12 Finance in 2013 – opening a finance agreement in another person’s name by forging their signature for personalised golf clubs worth £375.99.

He was jailed at Huntingdon Crown Court on Friday March 4.