Joshua Teale, 32, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for defrauding a man of £177,000 through an elaborate romance scam. The victim, who met Teale at Arla Foods in Leeds, was conned over three years with lies about Teale's mother's death, a fake Covid-19 hospitalization, and a nurse named Julie.
How the scam unfolded
Prosecutor Jordan Millican told Leeds Crown Court that the victim first encountered Teale while both worked at Arla Foods. After losing touch, they reconnected at a McDonald's in Hunslet in 2020. The next day, Teale claimed bailiffs were at his home and needed £4,000. The victim gave him cash outside Morrisons in Hunslet.
A month later, Teale said his mother had died and needed money for legal fees. The victim began paying £1,900 monthly via email and text. Teale's mother was actually alive. The victim later received an email from a purported solicitor, but checks revealed no such solicitor existed.
Romance and deception
In 2022, Teale proposed a romantic relationship, surprising the victim, who thought Teale was heterosexual. They exchanged messages daily, with Teale using terms like 'Babe' and sending sexual images. The victim worked extra hours and took out loans to maintain payments.
Teale then claimed he had Covid-19 and was hospitalized in London, later moving to Glasgow. He introduced a nurse named Julie, who allegedly replied to messages. The victim sent additional funds for medical bills. In total, £130,000 was transferred by May 2023.
Discovery and arrest
The scam ended on 19 May 2023, when a Lloyds Bank clerk flagged suspicious transactions. The victim tried to send more money 10 days later, but staff intervened and called police. Teale, pretending to be in Glasgow, arrived at the bank and confessed, saying he had a huge gambling debt.
Impact on the victim
In a victim statement, the man said he will never enter another relationship. He stated: 'I put my life basically on hold for absolutely nothing. He took everything from me and I worked every day to support him.' He lost weight, slept only a few hours daily, and couldn't afford electricity while working two jobs.
Teale's background and sentence
Teale had four previous convictions for 11 offences, including fraud. His lawyer, Matthew Harding, said the fraud stemmed from a long-standing gambling addiction that began with scratch cards 16 years ago. Recorder Paige sentenced Teale to five years and three months, ordered him to repay £177,000 at £1 per month while in prison, and imposed a restraining order barring contact with the victim.
