A conman who masterminded a large-scale student accommodation fraud in Bradford has been jailed for almost four years.

Pradip Chavda tricked investors into ploughing £100,000 into a proposed development in Sunbridge Road for students at the University of Bradford.

He pledged them £300 a month in rent per flat for two years whether the properties were occupied or not.

Chavda doctored a fax from the university to back up his false claim that it would meet the difference if a student failed to stump up the rent.

Chavda, 47, spread his scam to Plymouth and Leicester, the officer heading the two-year fraud investigation told the Telegraph & Argus.

Detective Constable Andy Bailey, of Scotland Yard's Specialist Crime Directorate, said: "Somebody had the idea that student accommodation would be a good investment. There was going to be a large block of flats in Sunbridge Road. Members of the public would buy them and let them to students."

He had seen plans for the 600-unit building which began as a legitimate business project. It become illegal when Chavda pledged the rent guarantee to his investors, believed to be from the London area. In all, Chavda tricked people out of £500,000 for "buy to let" student properties. He claimed it was running in association with Bradford and Plymouth universities.

DC Bailey said Chavda contacted the University of Bradford on the pretext that he had a relative wanting to study there. When the university faxed details of courses to him, he doctored the fax to appear as if the university was endorsing the "rent guarantee".

A jury a Southwark Crown Court heard that Chavda was bankrupt and his company Zamlon was a fraud. Zamlon and Zamlon (Bradford) Ltd were wound up by the Official Receiver in 2005.

Sentencing Chavda to three years and ten months in prison, Judge Jeremy McMullen QC said: "The business Zamlon, I'm satisfied, was originally created in order to carry out the project of student accommodation, which, in the case of Bradford, was legitimate.

"You, however, poisoned it by recognising how important a rent guarantee for students is and, if you could not get it through the front door, you would get it through the back and swindle people. The prosecution called you a conman. You are, and you are a past master at it."

During the three-week trial, the jury heard how one unlucky small businessman parted with £200,000. When police contacted the universities, they knew nothing about the scheme.

DC Bailey said "The University of Bradford was never involved, had nothing to do with it and was very helpful when the inquiry came up to Bradford."

Chavda was convicted of fraudulent trading obtaining a money transfer by deception and money laundering between January 1, 2003 and November 30, 2004.

Andrew Abbey, director of accommodation services at the University of Bradford, said: "When students ask us for advice on accommodation with private landlords, we always urge them to go through student housing bureau, Unipol.

"Unipol operates a code of standards for private sector accommodation, to which a number of landlords in Bradford have voluntarily signed up to. The code sets standards in both the physical condition of properties and the way in which they are being managed on a day-to-day basis. Landlords who sign up to the code agree to meet the set criteria."

Unipol Student Homes is based at the Sports Centre, University of Bradford, Great Horton Road, Bradford, BD7 1DT. For more information, contact it on (01274) 235899, e-mail bradford @unipol.leeds.ac.uk or visit www. unipol.leeds.ac.uk/bradford.