Joseph Gibson, a 35-year-old conman from Wales, tricked four victims out of more than £70,000 by fabricating a life as a former Special Boat Service soldier turned multi-millionaire battling cancer, prosecutors said at Bristol Crown Court.
Gibson met two of his victims on the dating app Tinder and persuaded one that they were in a relationship. He repeatedly asked for money for cancer treatment despite claiming immense wealth, often showing women large houses and saying he was considering buying them.
First Victim Lost Over £5,200
The first victim, a businesswoman from Devon, lost more than £5,200 over four months after believing Gibson's lies and handing over money supposedly to purchase stock for her retail business, prosecutor Ellen MacAnaw told the court.
"He told her he was worth over £400 million and knew important people, regaling her with stories of owning lots of businesses, and showed her pictures of yachts he said he owned," MacAnaw said. "In August 2020 he told her he had cancer again. He told her he had people on his back again for money. She sent him £100."
Gibson sent the woman photographs claiming to show him in a hospital bed and continued to ask for money, leaving her with only 93p in her bank account. In a victim impact statement, she said his lies destroyed her ability to trust others.
"He talked about that he was good friends with two of the Dragons from Dragons' Den and watching the programme now is tainted for me," she said. "It really upsets me when I hear about people having cancer because I question whether they are telling me the truth. How do you ask someone to provide evidence they are having radiotherapy or chemotherapy?"
On one occasion, Gibson asked for money for a taxi from the hospital, but when she could not afford it, he claimed he tried walking. "He said he had collapsed in a pool of blood and had a haemorrhage, making me feeling it was my fault because I didn't have enough money to pay for him to get a taxi home," she said. "I cannot comprehend that he has lied for so long."
Second Victim Lost Over £21,000
Within a month of ending contact with his first victim, Gibson moved on to another woman he met on Tinder. He told her he wanted a submissive relationship where he would control her in exchange for payment, MacAnaw said.
"He said he was in University College London Hospital receiving treatment for radiation damage suffered while in the navy, and reportedly served in the SBS. He had a PhD and had been blown up by an IED," the prosecutor added.
Gibson claimed he could invest her money and turn £10,000 into £150,000. In early 2021, he said his cancer had returned and needed urgent private treatment, leading her to take out a £4,000 loan. She described having a breakdown at work over concern for Gibson, whom she believed she was in a relationship with.
The woman lost over £21,000, took out personal loans, and built up credit card debts, leaving her feeling suicidal and forcing her into an Individual Voluntary Agreement to manage debts. "He has left me with nothing and in heavy debt," she said in a victim impact statement. "He has broken me as a person and turned my whole world upside down."
Third and Fourth Victims Lost Over £18,000 and £25,000
The third victim, a relative of the second, took out loans to invest in Gibson's bogus schemes, losing more than £18,000. The fourth victim, a former super yacht captain, was taken in by Gibson's lies about sailing. Gibson told him he had bought a yacht for £7 million after selling a weapons programme to the US government for £400 million.
"The defendant is a consummate liar and he told multiple lies to him," MacAnaw said. In total, the man gave Gibson over £25,000 to invest in his businesses. In a victim impact statement, he called Gibson "a psychopathic con artist who would not stop taking money from people. He is a danger to society."
Gibson Pleaded Guilty; Sentence Adjourned
Gibson, whose address was listed as Penbryn Nant in Ruthin, pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud by false representation, committed between July 2020 and October 2021. In total, he conned his victims out of just over £70,000.
James Tucker, defending, said Gibson had around £40,000 in savings from working in engineering in the UK, Bulgaria, and Dubai, and wanted to repay his victims. "It is clear from the pre-sentence report of his regret towards the people he has conned, not just the emotional and psychological but the financial harm," Tucker said.
Recorder Jaron Crooknorth adjourned sentencing until August to allow Gibson to provide evidence of the money. "You have someone who has deceived others and he is telling the court he has £40,000," the judge said. "And here we are today at court and there is nothing. Is he just doing to us what he did to his victims?" Addressing Gibson, he added: "You have heard what I have said. You must provide your solicitor with evidence so the court are able to see it. Don't do to me what you have done to them."
