Joshua Teale, 32, from Belle Isle, Leeds, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison at Leeds Crown Court on July 17, 2026, after defrauding a man he met at Arla Foods of £177,000. The victim, who remains unnamed, said he will never enter another relationship after the ordeal.
How the scam unfolded
The victim first met Teale while both worked at Arla Foods. They lost contact after Teale left but reconnected by chance at a McDonald’s in Hunslet in 2020. Prosecutor Jordan Millican told the court: “The next morning, the defendant called the victim, saying bailiffs were at his address... if he didn’t give them £4,000. He was trusting and gave him the cash outside Morrisons in Hunslet.”
A month later, Teale claimed his mother had died and he needed money for legal costs. The victim began paying £1,900 a month. However, the court heard Teale’s mother was alive. Teale also claimed to have moved to Blackpool due to mental health services being at capacity in Leeds.
Fabricated relationship and nurse
In 2022, Teale proposed a romantic relationship, catching the victim off guard. The victim said: “He would refer to him as 'Babe' and sent images of a sexual nature.” Teale then claimed to have contracted Covid-19 and was hospitalised in London, later moving to Glasgow. He invented a nurse named Julie who allegedly communicated on his behalf. The victim sent money for medical bills and to pay Julie.
Millican noted: “He had paid £130,000 to him [by May 2023].” The total fraud reached £177,000.
Discovery and arrest
The scam unravelled on May 19, 2023, when a Lloyds Bank staff member flagged suspicious transactions. Ten days later, the victim attempted another transfer, but staff intervened and called police. Before officers arrived, the victim called “Julie,” who returned the call and confessed the lie, admitting a huge gambling debt. Teale later arrived at the bank, despite claiming to be in Glasgow, and was arrested.
Impact on the victim
In a personal statement, the victim said: “I put my life basically on hold for absolutely nothing... He took everything from me... I have been used and exploited and will never recover.” He worked two jobs and lived on the bare minimum, losing weight and sleep.
Teale’s background and sentence
Teale had four previous convictions for 11 offences, including fraud. His barrister, Matthew Harding, said the offending stemmed from a long-standing gambling addiction that began 16 years ago with scratch cards. Recorder Paige sentenced Teale to five years and three months, ordered repayment of £177,000 at £1 per month while imprisoned (reviewed upon release), and imposed a restraining order preventing contact with the victim.
