Tinder conman from Denbighshire jailed for taking £68,000 from victims

A man who fabricated a story about being a special forces soldier turned multimillionaire cancer patient has been handed a prison sentence of over three years. Joseph Gibson, aged 35, deceived four individuals out of nearly £68,000, including two people he encountered through the dating app Tinder. He even convinced one of his victims that they were in a romantic relationship.

Residing in Penbryn Nant, Ruthin, Denbighshire, Gibson falsely claimed to have a net worth in the hundreds of millions, alleged service in the Special Boat Service, and ownership of luxury yachts. At Bristol Crown Court, he received a sentence of three years and two months after admitting guilt to four counts of fraud by false representation. A subsequent hearing is scheduled to determine how he will reimburse his victims.

Details presented during sentencing revealed the extent of Gibson’s manipulations. One victim was persuaded to send money supposedly for business ventures, medical bills, and online trading, losing over £5,600 and experiencing anxiety and emotional distress. Another victim, referred to as SC, gave Gibson more than £30,000 based on promises of large returns from investments. She recovered about £9,700 but still faced a loss of £21,000 and described being left heavily in debt.

The third victim, identified as JH, entrusted Gibson with £28,000 after believing his claims of business success; she only received £10,000 in return and indicated that the financial loss affected her relationship with her children. The fourth, a retired super yacht captain named PH, invested £23,350 and reported suffering severe emotional consequences due to the fraud

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More