Thomas Matthews used his mum's laptop to order high-value items from a series of businesses, often using someone else's details to carry out the crimes. 

Norwich Crown Court heard at least 10 firms were targeted by the 27-year-old as part of the frauds carried out between June 2022 and November 2025.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Ravi Dogra, prosecuting, said the total loss experienced by companies hit by Matthews was  £91,709.

Among those firms targeted were technology distribution company Exertis UK, solutions and systems integrator Insight UK and Kite Packaging. 

The prosecutor said the frauds would have required "significant planning" and took place over a "sustained period of time".

Matthews, from Newton Flotman and who suffers from cerebral palsy, was jailed for four years after he admitted 12 counts of fraud.

Thomas Matthews (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

He also admitted an offence of threatening to destroy property in relation to a female victim as well as asking for four other offences - also frauds - to be taken into consideration.

Sentencing Matthews, Judge Anthony Bate said there were a "large number of victims" affected by the frauds which were "sustained nature over a lengthy period of time".

Judge Anthony Bate (Image: Newsquest)

The judge took into account Matthews' pleas and remorse but insisted "this is a case which crosses the custody threshold by some distance".

(function (d, s, n) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; js = d.createElement(s); js.className = n; js.src = "//player.ex.co/player/e60d00ff-c835-4bb5-b2c7-ebc398798f91"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); js.setAttribute('programmatic', 'true'); js.onload = function () { const playerApi238180 = ExCoPlayer.connect('e60d00ff-c835-4bb5-b2c7-ebc398798f91'); playerApi238180.init({ "autoPlay": false, "mute": true, "showAds": true, "playbackMode": "play-in-view", "content": { "playFirst": [ { "title": "Prison Sentences Explained", "src": "https://large-cdn.ex.co/transformations/production/000c54c3-8c30-4d68-8bba-53720b1d0fbc/720p.mp4" } ], "playlistId": "649d64338b6b9000128a8849" }, "sticky": { "mode": "persistent", "closeButton": true, "pauseOnClose": true, "desktop": { "enabled": false, "position": "bottom-right" }, "mobile": { "enabled": false, "position": "upper-small" } } }); }; }(document, 'script', 'exco-player'));

Martin Ivory, mitigating, said Matthews was still comparatively young and deserved credit for his pleas.

He said he accepted there was a "multiplicity" of complainants over a "protracted period of time".

But Mr Ivory said although it appeared to be sophisticated operation it was a "scheme which was doomed to fail".

Mr Ivory pointed to the fact he had the items delivered to his own address, as well as the fact he had used his mum's laptop in the offending, in coming to his assessment.

He added that a decline in his mental health following the breakdown of a relationship meant Matthews, who was unemployed at the time, was not thinking about what he was doing but accepted what he had done.

The barrister added Matthews secured two thirds of the amount he was attempting to achieve meaning his "scheme" was less successful than the defendant indented.

Speaking after the sentencing, PC Lisa Wright, said: The offender went to considerable lengths to deceive victims by posing as company CEOs and creating convincing false documentation. 

"This four‑year sentence sends a clear message that complex fraud carried out through impersonation and forgery will be met with robust action.”

Matthews was made the subject of a restraining order in respect of two of the victims, banning him from contacting them directly or indirectly for four years.

© Norwich Evening News