The low-cost carrier and package holiday operator’s fraud departments alerted Greater Manchester Police after becoming suspicious of purchases made by Kurtis Mulvaney.

Mulvaney, 30, of Salford, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today (October 24) after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation.

Between March 2013 and April 2016 Mulvaney purchased flights with Jet2.com, as well as another airline, and breaks with Jet2holidays totalling approximately £15,000. 

Fraud teams at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays notified police leading to Mulvaney’s arrest at Manchester airport last spring as he tried to check in for a Jet2.com flight to Palma using a compromised credit card.

He was sentenced to 14 months suspended for 12 months, 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to repay Jet2.com and Jet2holidays £10,000.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “This is welcome news in the fight against fraudsters, and sends out a strong message to anyone who thinks they can get away with it.”

“I would like to pay tribute to our fraud department who work tirelessly to prevent this type of deception taking place, and who work closely with police forces across the UK, such as GMP, to stamp it out.”

Detective sergeant Alex Wild of the airport criminal investigation department at Greater Manchester Police added: “Mulvaney thought he could live the lifestyle he wanted, with luxurious holidays and flights abroad, without paying a penny for it.

“Thanks to the work of officers and the help of the airlines he defrauded, Mulvaney was caught and will now pay the real price for his exotic holidays, as he now has a criminal record and has to pay back £10,000.

“Let this be a warning to anyone who thinks they can get away with fraud, you will eventually be caught.”