Con man said minister would settle hotel’s £1,800 bill

A SERIAL con man posed as a bride’s father to run up a huge bill at a five-star hotel before claiming his “close friend” Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson would pay on his behalf, a court heard.

Richard Craig, 42, racked up a £1,770 bill in two days at the Grand Hotel in York by pretending to be at his daughter’s wedding reception.

When the real father realised what had happened, he told hotel staff, who went to Craig’s room and found a “scene of devastation”. Craig lied that various people would pay, including Mr Williamson, York Crown Court heard.

Craig also conned Claridge’s Hotel in London out of £4,683 in two days.

With 32 previous convictions for fraud, Michael Bosomworth, prosecuting, said: “This man is a practised and persistent fraudster.”

Judge Paul Worsley QC told Craig: “You must have appreciated the upset, frustration and distress suffered by the wedding party when they realised they were confronted with a bill of just short of £2,000.

“The public deserve a break from your activities. You are clearly a skilled con man.”

He jailed him for two years, to be served when Craig finishes the 12-month sentence handed out by Southwark Crown Court in February for the Claridge’s fraud.

Steve Munro, for Craig, said in mitigation that Craig was a long-term alcoholic and had used his time in prison to tackle his problems.

Craig, of south-west London, who appeared via video link from Wandsworth prison, pleaded guilty to fraud.

Mr Bosomworth said the fraud caused the bride’s father weeks of emails and phone calls and tainted the memory of his daughter’s wedding day.