A landlord convicted of mortgage fraud has had an appeal against being jailed for three-and-a-half years dismissed by three of the countrys most senior judges, who said there were no grounds for challenging the convictions.

Mark Lloyd borrowed £516,847 from mortgage lenders but he lied about his occupation and income on mortgage applications between 2004 and 2009 which enabled him to purchase and remortgage properties in Irlam, Chadderton, Moston and Little Hulton, which were then let out to tenants.

During this time Mr Lloyd was working as a van driver earning between £13,000 and £14,000pa having previously been unemployed until 2006.

The 36-year-old, from Walkden, Manchester, had been jailed for three-and-a-half years in January after being found guilty of seven counts of obtaining money by deception.

Lloyd challenged his convictions at Londons Criminal Appeal Court, with his lawyers arguing they were “unsafe” because of the way the case was originally presented to the jury by the prosecution.

But his recent appeal was dismissed by three of the countrys most senior judges, who said there were no grounds for challenging the convictions or the jail term imposed.

Lord Justice Aikens said: “These were matters that were fraudulent from the outset and they were carried out over a significant period of time and were frauds on a large scale.”