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A “charming” fraudster who conned a millionaire he met on Tinder into handing him virtually £150,000 has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Richard Dexter, 38, boasted to his sufferer, Amrita Sebastian, that he was price virtually £7m, owned personal jets, was concerned in Hollywood studios and had purchased a scorching air balloon on a whim.
Dexter, a father-of-two from Southsea in Hampshire, informed Sebastian he was on the verge of a giant windfall attributable to investments in biopharmaceutical expertise.
He satisfied the Center East-based govt he wanted capital for a bit of kit and duped her into sending him £141,500 in a sequence of funds, even spinning her lies whereas she was significantly in poor health in hospital.
Robert Bryan, prosecuting, informed Portsmouth crown court docket: “He claimed he was a profitable businessman. He alluded to his immense wealth and personal jets, costly vehicles, and stated he had extra by means of curiosity in his investments than a physician’s wage.”
In a single message to Sebastian, Dexter stated: “Hey! Most of my pals did uni and have money owed and worries and all earn £40,000 to £60,000. I purchased a scorching air balloon yesterday simply because I might.”
Sebastian, who travels to the UK twice a yr from Dubai, met Dexter in August 2015 and he persuaded her he wanted capital to start out manufacturing of a bit of scientific tools known as a bioreactor paddle.
He promised Sebastian he would pay her £100,000 as curiosity and over the course of 15 months, she made a sequence of funds as giant as £68,000.
She started to grasp Dexter was not all he made out however felt “trapped” into carry on giving him cash within the hope this could defend her money. Lastly she went to the police.
Dexter’s grandmother additionally informed the court docket he would recurrently ask her to switch him £10 as a result of his “card wasn’t working”.
One businessman Dexter had contact with, Roy Maunder, stated: “His tales got here throughout as fanciful … He was a liar however a likeable character, he was a charmer.”
Dexter was convicted of fraud, forging patent paperwork and perverting the course of justice.
John Lucas, defending, stated Sebastian’s cash went on “normal day by day dwelling” and to cowl money owed. Nevertheless it additionally got here out in court docket that he had paid £15,000 to a traditional automobile firm.
Lucas added: “He had money owed to shut pals. He acquired himself right into a pickle and was investing Bitcoin unsuccessfully. He’s a well-educated younger man who made a giant error of judgment.”
Dexter, who sobbed throughout the listening to, informed the court docket: “I haven’t been in a position to put into phrases what I might say to [Miss Sebastian] if she was right here.
“[I have not] had any braveness to contact her or put it onto paper, however I’m very, very sorry to the purpose that I give it some thought day by day, from the minute I get up till I fall asleep. I can’t justify what I did.”
Dexter’s companion, Hayley Jones, 37, wept and informed the court docket her boyfriend of three-and-half years was a very good father.
Sentencing Dexter, Decide Timothy Mousley QC stated: “I’m left in little question that dishonesty is a function of your character and it’s profound. What you probably did affected [Sebastian’s] psychological well being and you’ve got by no means spared a thought for her.”
A listening to to find out how cash is paid again has been set for 7 April.
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