A notorious fraudster wanted by the Metropolitan Police has died after falling from a window in Chelsea, west London. Karl Cronin, who was sought over his role in a large-scale property scam worth millions of pounds, was found fatally injured on the pavement along the King's Road in the early hours of Easter Monday.
It is believed he fell from a second-storey window, although police have stated they do not suspect third-party involvement. The 2008 BBC Crimewatch appeal had featured Cronin, as detectives sought to question the elusive criminal. It remains unclear how he managed to return to London undetected by authorities.
Speaking about Cronin, a friend commented: "He did a lot of bad things in his life and destroyed many, many lives. He lived through lies and deceit and had a ruthless streak. All he cared about was money, dating young women, and having a good time. It did not matter who got hurt along the way. There have been a lot of people laughing that his life has ended this way. There's the feeling that he got what he deserved."
Another friend described him as a "loveable rogue, almost like an Arthur Daley figure," adding: "He was always good company, the life and soul of a party and someone who was living life to the full. But he caused a lot of damage, there is no doubt about that."
Sources indicated that Cronin had been residing in a rented apartment since November of the previous year, having flown into London Heathrow. He became wanted for defrauding landlords and property owners in the Chelsea and Fulham areas in the early 2000s, amassing over £5 million from his scams.
Cronin was also implicated in a high-profile 2017 fraud trial that led to the imprisonment of model Laylah de Cruz and her mother Dianne Moorcroft. The pair had conned a 91-year-old heiress, who has since died, into raising cash against her home. De Cruz, a Dubai-based stable owner, encouraged her mother to change her name by deed poll to impersonate the true owner of a vacant £3 million house in Kensington. Moorcroft obtained a British passport and a Dubai resident's permit in the elderly woman's name and arranged for the property sale. The duo secured a £1.2 million bridging loan before a buyer was found, with the money transferred to Dubai and later withdrawn in cash.
During the trial, prosecutor Teresa Hay stated that neither woman "were the architects or principal beneficiaries" of the fraud, adding that "there would be some significant interest in [Cronin] if he came back to the UK." Cronin did not stand trial as he was on the run. Both women were convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation at Southwark Crown Court and sentenced to five years in prison.
Investigations into Cronin's death are ongoing. One acquaintance remarked: "There is no way Karl killed himself. None of the people who knew him believe that is what happened. One thing is for sure – he had a lot of enemies." A neighbour added: "I've heard so many other things - we are all interested to know."
