A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a fraudster who took more than £20,000 from a woman he met on a dating website.
Christopher Harris, 40, was due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday, February 8, to be sentenced for fraud by false representation on the woman from Baldock in Herts.
She had loaned him £20,810 between May and August 2021 because he said he needed to pay medical bills, a mortgage, insurance companies, council tax and water bills.
An investigation into his bank accounts found no payments had been made to any of the organisations.
Harris, from Woodger Close, Shillington, Beds, had promised he would pay her back at a later date.
He had 16 previous convictions for 25 offences, including nine of fraud.
His victim had appeared at court to read an impact statement. She told the judge: “I had it in my head he might do it again. He has had Covid five times.“
His lawyer Andrew Corcut told Judge Sandeep Kainth that Harris, from Shillington in Bedfordshire, had claimed he was in hospital with heart problems.
Mr Corcut said: “I received a phone call from Mr Harris. He said he is in the acute assessment unit in Bedford Hospital with heart problems. I have asked the defendant for documents to support this.
So far nothing has been received.”
The prosecution lawyer Harry Garside asked for a warrant for arrest without bail to be issued. Judge Kainth agreed. He told the victim: “You attended court to witness the defendant being sentenced.
He is not here. He has said through his lawyer that he is in an acute ward.
S“It is similar to the lies and rubbish he told you. I have issued a warrant for his arrest.”
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