‘Casanova conman’ tricked lovers out of £400k with Lottery lies earlier than vanishing
Winning the National Lottery is life-changing, however one man used the concept of it to cheat individuals out of tons of of hundreds of kilos.
John Eric Wells, a decorator from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, earned the title Casanova after he spun an internet of lies telling ladies he had received the lottery. He conned lovers out of £400,000 after which vanished. He’s now needed in connection to the three high-value romance frauds, however to today, his actual location isn’t recognized.
His identify first appeared in 2001 – however through the years police suppose he’s additionally passed by aliases together with Howard Hemmings and Howard Walmsley. He would go on to get three years within the slammer when he posed as a lottery winner to try to save his marriage to his spouse.
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His case would go on to encourage the 2004 ITV movie Can’t Buy Me Love. He focused ladies, banks, solicitors an architect and even a automobile agency. One girl he conned out of £8,000 by convincing her he was about to maneuver in together with her.
Meanwhile, he even ordered a fleet of Jaguars and an extension that included a swimming pool. He claimed to have received £8.4million by the point he was caught – Judge Jane Shipley informed Sheffield Crown Court he lived in a “fantasy world”.
But after 18 years of laying low, he reappeared within the headlines in 2019 – he’s been on the run ever since. Police mentioned they have been looking out for him in connection to the romance fraud understood to be price within the area of £400,000.
One alleged sufferer, Hazel Wilkins, claims he stole her life financial savings price round £63,000. She mentioned he took her on cruises and put her up in penthouse fits – and even mentioned she may handle a restaurant he owned. She mentioned: “Before I met him I had a very good job, numerous cash within the financial institution and I’d by no means been in debt.
“That man has ruined my life and who is aware of what number of others. I do not wish to fall in love once more. I will not belief anyone. I’ve obtained to the purpose of hiding my purse. I simply need him discovered and put the place he’s alleged to be – behind bars.”
He was also allegedly carrying the same scam out on another woman, who Hazel is understood to have since got in touch with. Cops think he is abroad now and in 2019 according to the Sun associates claimed a rich Vietnamese girl had purchased him a bar.
(Image: Press Association)
A former pal mentioned: “He’s still in Asia and is supported by her. She’s a rich lady from Vietnam. She owns hotels all over. He’s a natural born liar and she’s gullible. She paid about £23,000 cash to buy him that bar. He told me he was in Dubai for 11 years working as a lawyer.”
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