Overview
- Rodney Roberts, 40, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation and was sentenced on March 12 at Newport Crown Court to five years and one month in prison.
- Using the alias "Paul Smith," he posed as an American with fabricated high-status jobs, including a supposed MI6 cover and a BBC role backed by a fake lanyard, to gain victims’ trust.
- He defrauded three women of £49,841 between 2021 and 2024, with one victim later recovering £8,860 after reporting to Action Fraud.
- Judge Celia Hughes imposed restraining orders for each victim and ordered full compensation to the two who have not been reimbursed, and court records noted Roberts’ prior fraud convictions.
- Tarian ROCU welcomed the sentence and urged vigilance for red flags such as requests for money, reluctance to meet or video-call, secrecy, and early intense affection.