Luxury holidays and lost bank cards - how fake Army major defrauded women on dating apps
A man named David Griffiths has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for defrauding two women he met on dating apps. Griffiths posed as a wealthy pilot and Army major to manipulate his victims into giving him thousands of pounds.
Why it matters
This case highlights the growing prevalence of romance fraud and the emotional and financial devastation caused by sophisticated online grooming tactics.
Image caption, Helen (left) and Joanne were able to meet for the first time after David Griffiths pleaded guilty to defrauding them by misrepresentation
He presented as a wealthy pilot, a former Army major who served with Prince Harry, and a man with more than half a million pounds cash at his disposal.
But these were just some of the lies David Griffiths told in a bid to extract thousands of pounds from two women he met on dating apps.
Following his sentencing to three-and-a-half years in prison for two counts of fraud by misrepresentation, his victims Joanne Brandon-Hodgkinson and Helen Moorefield hope that, by speaking out, they will alert possible future victims.
"He groomed me to have sex to get financial gain for himself," said Helen.
"I believe this man has done this to other women, I do not believe we're the only ones."
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