After asking him for money to cover the cost of cancer treatment and to negotiate the release of his pal from prison, a romance fraudster stole hundreds of pounds from the man.
Dean Badder befriended the victim before committing the crimes between January 2016 and January 2018.
In January 2018, the 52-year-old informed the man that a specific friend’s release from prison required £10,000.
The victim gave Badder the money even though he had never met or spoken to Badder’s acquaintance and only knew of him through social media.
There were no records of Badder’s acquaintance in any intelligence system, including prison databases, after a thorough investigation by police.
Investigations were also done on a social media account that was set up in his name.
It was determined that multiple Internet Protocol (IP) addresses used to contact the victim were connected to an address in Carlton, where Badder had previously resided and was when he was detained on January 28, 2018.
Police interviewed the victim, who also revealed that he had previously given Badder money to cover his medical expenses after the latter informed him that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
After entering a guilty plea, Badder, of Swindale Close in Gamston, admitted guilt to two counts of fraud and one count of blackmail relating to a photo delivered to the victim and threats made afterward.
When he showed up for sentencing on Wednesday at Nottingham Crown Court, he received a four years, nine months sentence (29 June 2022).
Detective Constable Musson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Badder had no regard whatsoever for the impact his actions had on the victim.
