A man from Swindon who conned three women into handing over more than £200,000 has been sent to prison.
Sajad Hussain, 45, from Winterbourne Road, Haydon End, Swindon, was given a sentence of five years and four months at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday after owning up to five counts of fraud.
Over a span of seven years, from 2013 to 2020, Hussain met three women on the internet and fooled them into thinking they were in a proper relationship with him, using made-up names and aliases.
These lies included needing money to visit his sick dad, being behind on his rent, needing cash for damage he’d done to a friend’s car, and being threatened with a beating unless he paid up.
Hussain was arrested in October 2020 at his home in Swindon after one of his victims called police.
He was charged under the Fraud Act 2006 for dishonestly deceiving the victims in order to swindle money for himself.
He will serve half of his sentence behind bars and the rest on licence.
Summing it up, Judge Jason Taylor KC said: “You spun a web of lies to ingratiate yourself in these women’s lives to gain their trust, then you pulled every emotional lever you could to gain money from them. “You were cold-hearted and mercenary, and to you these women were human piggy banks.”
Detective Constable Rachael Fairbairn from the Complex Fraud Team, who investigated the case, said: “This is a particularly cruel crime where Hussain has taken advantage of three women’s kindness and generosity over a number of years.
“He created a false impression of himself as someone who the victims could look to build a future with.
“As well as the financial loss that the victims have suffered, it has been particularly difficult for them both emotionally and psychologically due to the betrayal by someone they thought they could trust.
“In one moment, when one of the victim’s mothers had a stroke, Hussain chose that opportunity to pounce and ratchet up the pressure to get even more money from her.
“I’m pleased that the judge recognised the severity of Hussain’s actions and the impact it’s had on the victims.
“I’d also like to commend the victims on their bravery in reporting Hussain’s actions to us and ensuring he is brought to justice.
“It is important to remember that romance fraud is a crime, and if you ever have any doubts over someone who is repeatedly asking you for money then you can report it to us via 101 and it will be taken seriously.”
The Crown Prosecution Service will now go ahead with legal action against Hussain to get hold of any money he has made under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
