UK’s ‘worst romance fraudster’ jailed for conning divorced mums out of £1M

A man described as Britains most prolific romance fraudster has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after tricking several women he met online into handing over huge sums of money. Nigel Baker, 56, targeted women through dating apps, convincing five single mothers to take out loans, sell property and drain savings to fund what he claimed was a betting business. In reality, prosecutors said the money was used to fuel his gambling habit. Baker was jailed for 17 years, a sentence believed to be the longest ever imposed in the UK for romance fraud. The court heard that the total losses ran well beyond one million pounds. One of his victims, a police officer who handed over almost eighty thousand pounds, described the emotional damage caused by the deception. [Nigel Baker] is a dangerous predator who has no morals or regard for anyone, she told the court. The realisation has left me feeling violated in a way that is difficult to put into words. The knowledge that he touched me makes my skin crawl. What I thought was love and connection was manipulation and deceit for financial gain. During the trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, prosecutors explained that Baker presented himself as an online bookie rather than a gambler, assuring the women there was zero risk to their money. He promised that profits from betting would secure a shared future together, including marriage. Instead, he placed bets online after receiving the funds. The court heard that his victims included businesswomen, accountants and police officers, many of whom were financially stable before encountering him. Another victim, an accountant and grandmother in her sixties, urged the court to impose a harsh sentence. [Baker] does not deserve anything more than to be punished for the pain, suffering and extreme financial losses that he has caused to each family he destroyed through his lies [and] deception. He needs to pay for every life he ruined, for every penny he took by misrepresenting the true person he was and is. He is a predator, and predators need to be locked up and the key thrown away. She added that the emotional toll on her family had been overwhelming and said Baker had humiliated her. Another victim took out a two hundred thousand pound bridging loan against the sale of her home. An NHS nurse told the court she handed over savings meant to pay for her childs wedding. The court also heard that Baker frequently demanded money for fabricated emergencies, including claims that he could not feed his children, needed to fix his fathers boiler or pay veterinary bills. In some cases, he threatened to end relationships if more money was not provided. One woman said he claimed a London gang would kill him unless she transferred fifty thousand pounds. Evidence showed that once victims ran out of funds, Baker returned to dating apps to find new targets. A Betfair account linked to one victim recorded losses of nearly four million pounds. The offences spanned eight years between 2012 and 2020. Baker was unanimously convicted of 18 counts of fraud by false representation after a month long trial. As he was led away, he muttered Happy Christmas, prompting gasps from victims and their families. Sentencing him, His Honour Judge Charles Falk described Baker as a charlatan who had mercilessly and cynically exploited the trust of the women. You [presented] yourself as a slightly vulnerable and hurting divorced ex husband, a loving family man with children. [You promised] each woman either marriage or permanent partnership and a shared rosy future. You told the women everything they wanted or needed to hear, each woman perceiving you, gratefully, as their second chance at life long happiness, when you were merely seeking to exploit them. Your purpose was pure financial gain. You didnt care a jot for any of them, and you mercilessly and cynically exploited [their] trust. When they had lost everything or you thought they had lost everything you would discard them and move on to your next victim. The fault that they lost their money is entirely at your door and your in depth ability to manipulate human emotions and the nature of a loving partner. In mitigation, Bakers lawyer cited prison overcrowding, his gambling addiction, post traumatic stress linked to the 1989 Marchioness disaster and supportive statements from his children.The post UKs worst romance fraudster jailed for conning divorced mums out of 1M appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.