A deceitful fraudster who preyed on vulnerable women by posing as a wealthy businessman has been sentenced to six years in prison for swindling them out of nearly £300,000.
David Hope, 39, spun a web of lies to convince his victims he was a successful entrepreneur with luxury properties and a lavish lifestyle. Instead, he was a career criminal exploiting their trust for financial gain.
The Elaborate Con
Hope met his victims through dating websites, presenting himself as a charming, affluent businessman. He would quickly profess his love before fabricating emergencies to extract money.
"I need urgent funds to complete a property deal," he told one woman after just two weeks of dating. She later discovered he had used the £25,000 she lent him to fund gambling sprees.
Victims Left Devastated
One victim, a 42-year-old single mother, said: "He destroyed my life savings and my ability to trust anyone again." Another described how Hope manipulated her into remortgaging her home.
The court heard how Hope:
- Used at least 15 aliases across multiple dating platforms
- Created fake business documents to support his stories
- Moved between rented luxury properties to maintain his facade
Justice Served
Detective Inspector Sarah Jones, who led the investigation, praised the victims' courage in coming forward. "Hope is a calculating predator who showed no remorse," she said.
The judge described Hope's actions as "a systematic campaign of dishonesty" that caused profound emotional and financial harm. In addition to his prison sentence, Hope was issued with a 10-year restraining order preventing contact with his victims.
Romance fraud has surged in recent years, with UK victims losing over £92 million to dating scams in 2022 alone. Authorities urge anyone who suspects they're being targeted to contact Action Fraud immediately.
