LOVE RAT ‘RUINED WOMAN’S LIFE’
VICTIMS HANDED OVER THOUSANDS OF POUNDS TO CONVINCING FRAUDSTER
A love rat who posed as a high-flying lawyer while conning cash from women he met through a dating site is behind bars.
Mark Tuthill claimed to be a successful barrister, earning more than £14,000 per month, with a lucrative property portfolio and a racehorse named Opal.
But Newcastle Crown Court heard the cold-hearted con man was practically penniless and actually lived in a hostel for the homeless.
The 48-year-old used promises of a prosperous future to swindle money from two women, both in their 40s, who he met over Plenty of Fish.
The court heard one of the victims, a special needs teacher who had a long-term illness and had gastric band surgery, handed over more than £10,000.
She told police she believed Tuthill “had everything she could wish for”, but he “ruined her financially, emotionally and psychologically” and “destroyed her life”.
His second victim had breast cancer and needed a double mastectomy.
Tuthill convinced the woman’s daughter to hand over more than £3,000 which she had saved as a deposit for her first home. The cancer patient said Tuthill “preyed on me while I was vulnerable”.
Tuthill dated both women at the same time in 2015.
The court heard when he started seeing the two women he had already conned more than £5,000 from a postmistress he met by being a customer at her shop and dated for two years.
Prosecutor Neil Pallister told the court: “He gave the impression he was a wealthy man, but played on the fact all his savings and investments were tied up.
“He would use that as an excuse to borrow money. He clearly never had any intention of paying it back.”
Mr Pallister said Tuthill gave his victims the impression they would “live happily ever after”.
The court heard Tuthill claimed to be earning £14,380 per month.
Mr Pallister said he extracted cash from the women “based on the promise they would have a secure future together, including marriage and the possibility of having a family.”
Tuthill made a complete confession when he was questioned by detectives last year.
Mr Pallister said: “He admitted defrauding all three victims. He said he had lied to them about his financial situation and the kind of work he was doing.”
Tuthill, of High Street East, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud. Mr recorder Harris sentenced him to two years and four months.
Peter Walsh, defending, said Tuthill was not a “professional confidence trickster”, but had run into financial difficulties and was “spinning a tale”.