A con artist who went on a spending spree with a stolen credit card has been jailed.
Paul Manning, 29, spent thousands of pounds on luxury hotels, fine restaurants and champagne.
Within weeks he spent more than £38,000.
At Lewes Crown Court Manning, who has a long history of dishonest behaviour, was sent to prison for 30 months.
He was convicted by a jury at a trial last month of stealing a credit card from his friend Jonathan Day.
He admitted 17 offences of obtaining three other credit cards dishonestly and using credit cards by deception.
He asked for 104 similar offences to be taken into consideration.
The court heard as well as living the high life Manning also withdrew cash using the cards to pay the deposit on a rented flat and spent thousands on electrical goods and furniture for his new home.
During his spree he stayed at top hotels in Brighton, including the Thistle, the Hilton Metropole and The Grand.
Rachel Beckett, prosecuting, told the court Manning, of Whippingham Road, Brighton, ran up debts of totalling £38,274.61 before his arrest.
He stole the card in May 2006 and was arrested in July that year.
The court heard he has served jail sentences in the past for deception, burglary and handling stolen goods.
Julian Dale, defending, said Manning suffered from depression and became ill after splitting from his partner in March 2006.
He said: "By the summer he found himself without accommodation, suffering from severe depression and to his shame indulging in the sort of criminal behaviour he had committed in the past.
"He is absolutely determined he will not go back to this sort of behaviour."
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