Man, 76, defrauded his dog-walking friends out of £130,000 after he lost out in romance scam
A 76-year-old man has admitted to defrauding friends and acquaintances to the tune of more than £100,000 after he was himself caught up in a romance scam.
Roger William Marsh, of Pinkham, in Cleobury Mortimer, concocted a story that he needed money because he had designed and patented a racing car part which required funding to resolve issues.
But he later admitted to his dog-walking friends that it was all made up. Telford Magistrates Court was told that he has apologised and paid all the money back.
Some of his victims had used money from their own properties to pay him and some told the court about the impact it has had on them.
Marsh pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud by false representation between November 1, 2022, and May 4, 2023.
The court was told on Tuesday that Marsh had convinced his friends over time that his request for help was genuine.
The court was told that friends of friends became involved in the scheme, and one even offered £25,000 without the need for any interest on the money, so convinced were they by the story. Another victim remortgaged his house and transferred money to Marsh's bank account.
They had checked out what Marsh had told them and it all appeared to be accurate, the court was told.
Mrs Gill said that Marsh had "admitted that it was all a lie in a WhatsApp group and that they had been scammed".
In a victim impact statement read to the court, one said it had a "severe effect on her mentally and physically". Her statement said Marsh's friends had lost a total of £130,000.
Another victim statement said she felt she had been "groomed" by Marsh as he planned a "malicious intent to defraud".
Her statement, read to the court by Mrs Gill, said she felt she had been targeted by Marsh and groomed by being "drip fed information by him".
She added that they were all his friends and they had helped him out when he was ill.
"I have been unable to think of anything else," her statement read. "It is on my mind all the time."
A third victim said it was "all very upsetting" especially for another woman who had been a common friend of other victims. She added: "The idea of her hurting her like that is terrible."
Mrs Gill said Marsh was of good character and had no previous convictions. She said he faced a prison sentence with a starting point of three years. She said this put the matters beyond the sentencing powers of the magistrates.
Marsh was represented in court by his barrister, Andrew Pandyan, who agreed it ought to go to Shrewsbury Crown Court for sentencing.
He said Marsh was aware of his "despicable actions" and had used WhatsApp to express his sorrow and regret for taking "such an appalling course of action".
"He has paid it back, he has already started taking steps to reparation."
Mr Pandyan added that Marsh, who was wearing a shirt, tie and jacket for his hearing, had fully complied with police and asked that the magistrates order a pre-sentence report so that a crown court judge could consider the circumstances at sentencing.
The magistrates ordered Marsh to appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court on May 31 and released him on bail with conditions that he does not contact two of his named victims.