David Griffiths Jailed 3.5 Years for £14,678 Dating-App Fraud as Fake Army Pilot

1 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15

Worcester Crown Court sentenced 52-year-old David Griffiths to three-and-a-half years in prison after he admitted defrauding two women he met on Hinge and Bumble of £14,678.42.
Griffiths posed as a wealthy helicopter pilot and former Army major linked to Prince Harry, using false claims about a £120,000 salary, military service and property wealth to win trust and borrow money.
Joanne Brandon-Hodgkinson lost £4,500 and Helen Moorefield £10,178.42, with fake holidays, unpaid expenses and a bogus £650,000 house purchase helping unravel his story.
The court heard Griffiths had a previous 2020 fraud conviction involving 10 counts linked to a charity; a proceeds-of-crime hearing is set for November 23.
Both women said their banks reimbursed them but criticized police handling, while speaking publicly to warn other potential victims of romance fraud.

Sources

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