A serial conman has admitted defrauding a man of more than $6,000.

Jonathan Ratteray, 32, from Smith’s, pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of fraudulent inducement to invest.

The Supreme Court heard that Ratteray convinced Che Powell to invest $6,650 between November 1 last year and January 4 this year.

Larissa Burgess, for the Crown, told the court that Ratteray had a long history of previous offences and was due to be sentenced on a similar charge.

She asked the court to remand Ratteray in custody until sentence.

Ms Burgess said: “He manipulates people he befriends into giving away their life savings.

“To risk another month of the defendant at large, or on bail, we risk other people being duped into the schemes that he perpetuates.”

However, Elizabeth Christopher, Ratteray’s defence lawyer, said her client had tried to turn his life around.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves released Ratteray on bail and adjourned the case until August 12.

Ratteray was sentenced to 18 months behind bars in 2013 after he admitted ten counts of dishonestly obtaining property.

He told his victims he would invest the money and guaranteed quick returns. But he used the cash to pay his bills.

He defrauded two victims of $17,000 over a two-month period.

Ratteray earlier spent a year in jail for a fraud that involved former cricketer Barry DeCouto between September 2005 and January 2006.

He persuaded Mr DeCouto to donate $74,600 to a friend who needed help to pay his mother’s medical bills.

However, Ratteray used the money to buy a car, a motorcycle, a plasma-screen television and to fund overseas shopping trips.

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