WICKED AND SICKENING LIES!

Judge slams fraudster who stole £125k meant for army veterans

A CRUEL fraudster who fleeced injured war heroes has been jailed for three years after blowing the cash on speedboats, women and luxury hotels.

Christopher O’Neill conned politicians into giving him £125,000 to create a hotel for wounded ex-soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

But O’Neill, 51, from Colwyn Bay, North Wales, blew the taxpayers’ money on a lavish spending spree.

He splashed out on speedboats, gambling debts, a luxury lifestyle and trying to romance three women at the same time.

A court heard he set up the Forces For Good trust to help ex-armed forces personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder to return to civilian life.

He won over politicians, probation workers, senior police officers and even convinced war veterans like Falklands hero Simon Weston that he wanted to help struggling servicemen and women.

Jailing him at Caenarfon Crown Court, Judge Niclas Parry said: “This was nothing other than a sophisticated high value scam.

Sickened

“It was a wicked deception on the public purse. Any right-minded person would be sickened.

“Your wicked lies involve deceiving vulnerable former soldiers who had truly served their country and meant something, who had seen horrors and had their lives blighted.

“It was for their benefit why the grants were approved.”

Former soldier O’Neill pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud.

Former Welsh Guardsman Simon Weston said: “He abused the trust of politicians and the general public. But worst of all he abused the trust of his peers – people who had possibly served alongside.”