Serial fraudster sentenced to 10 years in jail

A serial fraudster who took advantage of his victims has been jailed for 10 years.

Simon John Turner, 49, of Lymington Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation and theft during a relationship.

Turner committed property fraud while living in Weymouth, Dorset, between 2018 and 2019 and romance fraud during a relationship between 2024 to 2025, as well as further frauds in Reading.

Crime Investigator Sophie Vowles said a complex investigation involving Wiltshire, Dorset and Thames Valley police forces led to Turner's arrest and described his actions as "manipulative".

In November 2025 Turner pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation.

In February 2026, he failed to appear at court for sentencing and he was later located and arrested in Hampshire.

He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on 22 April for the Dorset fraud offences, as well as further frauds he had committed in the Swindon and Reading areas.

In 2018, Turner was living at a caravan park in Weymouth, Dorset, when he befriended a man in his 60s who lived alone.

When the site underwent redevelopment in 2019, Turner and the victim needed to purchase new caravans in order to remain living there.

Turner told the victim that he had secured a deal to purchase two caravans at a discounted price, costing the victim £60,000.

The victim made a number of payments to Turner, totalling £53,046, before finding out in November 2019 that Turner never made any payment to the site owner which meant the victim lost his place of residence.

During this time, Turner had built trust with the victim and offered to invest some of the victim's money in a mortgage.

The victim gave Turner an additional £61,025, but no money was ever invested and it was never returned.

In March 2019, Turner met two other victims who were looking to purchase a caravan in Weymouth.

He told them the caravans were only for existing residents, but that he could purchase one on their behalf and they could complete the transaction through him.

They made a series of payments for the caravan, decking and security lighting totalling £76,239.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, one of the victims contacted the site and spoke to the owner who informed them that the invoices were fake.

Dorset Police Det Cons Mark Walsh said: "Turner's deception has had a long-lasting impact on all of the victims affected.

"He acted callously and was only out to make money for himself, using charm to win over his victims and make them believe that he was genuine."

In 2024, Turner met his next victim, a woman from Amesbury, Wiltshire, on a dating website.

Their relationship developed and they booked holidays together but Turner would always cancel last minute with different excuses.

Over the course of the relationship, he extracted £28,640 from his victim.

In a personal impact statement supplied to the court, his victim said "I was lonely and vulnerable" and "he told me what I wanted to hear".

"He stole mine and my son's financial security, I don't trust anyone now. I feel hurt, isolated, embarrassed, angry and judged. My kindness was used against me," she added.

Vowles said: "Romance fraud is a callous crime that leaves deep emotional and financial scars, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions."