Serial conman who swindled £300k from 4 women jailed
A ROMANCE fraudster has been jailed for seven years after conning a total of £300,000 out of four female victims.
Cieran McNamara, 37, spent the cash on designer clothes, travel and five-star hotels, in order to meet other wealthy victims. He used several pseudonyms and told them he was a millionaire businessman with a property portfolio. After starting a relationship, he showered them with flashy gifts and expensive meals. This was funded by previous scams, a court heard. He also showed them photos of himself posing by yachts and in mansions. Cheshire Police said that the jobless conman was caught out when one victim realised what he was doing and reported him. Officers discovered that he had manipulated four women to hand over a total of £302,054 from September 2022 to September 2023. After faking a relationship, he would tell them he had to sort out a “crisis” but had issues with his banking so needed to borrow money from them.
If they questioned him, he would make them feel guilty.
Detectives found victims in Warwickshire, Cheshire and Hertfordshire, as well as £19,500 of designer goods in a lock-up he had rented.
McNamara, of Coventry, had earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation. He was jailed at Chester crown court yesterday.
Det Con Victoria Hazlewood, who led the investigation, said of manipulative McNamara: “I truly believe that he cannot tell the difference between reality and fantasy. He has shown no remorse.
“I have no doubt there are other victims – I encourage them to come forward.”
I believe he cannot tell reality from fantasy
VICTORIA HAZLEWOOD OFFICER WHO LED CASE