Tri-Service
Conman Posing As Royal Marine Jailed
A conman who posed as a Royal Marine has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.
Zac Langley told women on dating websites he had been a Marine for 15 years and came from a wealthy family, to trick them into spending more than £100,000 on gifts for him.
The 41-year-old from Poole in Dorset claimed he worked in intelligence for the Royal Marines and the Ministry of Defence.
He also said he owned a property development business and expensive homes and forged an email showing he had assets of £50 million. His Honour Judge Fuller said:
"He is a cynical manipulator and confidence trickster and a thoroughly dishonest individual."
He was jailed for five-and-a-half years at Bournemouth Crown Court for fraud and failing to comply with crime prevention orders.
Langley, who met two of the women on the Plenty Of Fish dating website, convinced victims to part with their cash, including entering into credit arrangements for two Range Rovers and a Mercedes Benz and buying artwork.
He was described in court as a "serial fraudster" who had "a list of aliases".
One if the women, Clare Cooper, said she first thought he was a "lovely, kind-hearted, caring man".
Her mother was also manipulated by him and has been forced to return to work after being "stripped of her livelihood".
Langley did not appear in court for sentencing and had already pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and 10 counts of failing to comply with crime prevention orders.
He had previously been convicted under the name Andrew Penfold, serving six prison sentences for 74 similar offences dating back to the year 2000.
Cover image courtesy: Dorset Police
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