Ian Beale lookalike who conned lonely ladies out of £400k named ‘satan incarnate’

A recent attraction has been made to search out an Ian Beale lookalike, who has been on the run for practically 5 years after tricking lonely hearts out of £400k.

South Yorkshire Police first launched an attraction for ‘Casanova Conman’ John Eric Wells in September 2019. Despite trying like certainly one of British TV’s most well-known characters – performed by Adam Woodyatt on Eastenders for many years – he is managed to keep away from arrest for greater than 4 years.

Wells, who’s in his 60s, can be believed to make use of the names Howard Walmsley and Howard Hemmings and is needed in reference to three romance frauds. It is claimed he charmed his victims, took their life financial savings after which went on a spending spree with their cash.

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Victim Hazel Wilkins, now 74, appeared on This Morning in 2019 to inform how she met Wells on-line. He began asking her for cash after they entered a relationship in 2014 and later took out loans in her title earlier than working away, leaving her in a mountain of debt.

Now, Wilkins’ daughter Lynsey has mentioned that Wells is liable for placing her mom in a care dwelling. She advised The Mirror: “The stress he put her through gave her PTSD. He destroyed her and he is the reason she is in a home now.”

Before she was taken unwell, Hazel advised the identical outlet: “That man has ruined my life and who knows how many others. I had a lovely family home, and a great job and I was happy when I met him. Now I have nothing and I will never be happy again.

“It’s too late to get again what he has taken from me. I hate him a lot and I take into consideration him and what he has achieved to me and my household each second of day by day. He is the satan incarnate to me.”

Wells had beforehand been jailed for 3 years after faking an £8.9million lottery win, later claiming the rip-off was an try to avoid wasting his marriage.

He tricked banks, a solicitor, an architect, a automotive agency and two ladies associates out of £53,000 in complete. The plot was became the movie Can’t Buy Me Love, written by EastEnders ‘ author Tony Jordan and starring Martin Kemp.

Judge Jane Shipley jailed him at Sheffield Crown Court in 2001, telling him he lived in a ‘fantasy world’.

She added: “You wanted to aspire to the high life and appear successful, but you seem to lack what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.”

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police confirmed Wells was nonetheless needed, saying: “Police would like to hear from anyone who has seen or spoken to Wells recently, or has information which may help officers with their enquiries.”

“It is possible Wells is currently living outside the UK. If you see him, or you have any information which may help, please call South Yorkshire Police on 101.”

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