'Britain's cruellest conman' jailed for second time after ruining women's lives
A con artist who spent six years in jail for defrauding ten women out of hundreds of thousands of pounds is back behind bars - for more frauds against partners.
David Checkley, 66, used fabricated stories to trick victims into believing he was an architect and a fighter pilot, but went onto defrauded approximately £100,000 from at least ten women. He had spent six years in jail for similar offences but, two years after his release in 2016, he started his latest campaign of crime.
Checkley used a false name and a web of deceit on dating apps to meet middle-aged women, who he told he was a Vietnam War veteran, a successful architect, had powerful friends and his ex-wife was an American billionaire - each was a lie.
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Checkley is pictured in 2010 after he conned a string of women out of thousands of pounds (PA)Speaking since Checkley was jailed again for 11 years last week, women across the UK told how the fraudster had ruined their lives. Ten women gave evidence in Checkley's eight-week trial at the Old Bailey in central London. One victim, Lise Johansen, lent Checkley £15,700 over a three-week period. He also stole Ms Johansen's ring, which her mother gave to her following her passing in 1989. Checkley defrauded £45,000 from one woman alone during the three-year period, in which the latest 10 women were targeted across the country.
But a cross-country investigation led by Metropolitan Police saw the father of five snagged again in 2021. His offending across the UK was linked and officers identified a number of high-value assets. Checkley was found guilty of 19 counts of fraud and one count of theft. Four of his victims were in court when the jury returned its verdict, and they cheered and shouted: "Scum".
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Susan Baio was in a relationship with Checkley but lost her business as a result of his fraud (ITV)Detective Superintendent John Roch, from the Met’s Economic Crime Team, said: "There is no doubt that Checkley is a prolific and systematic fraudster who spun a web of lies to his victims. He abused the honest intentions of his victims in the most callous way. He is a fantasist who claimed to lead an enviable lifestyle but in reality, he is a criminal who deceived innocent people for his own financial gain."
Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Johansen said: "I'm glad he is in prison because it is the only place he can't do this to any other woman. I no longer trust anyone... This has ruined my life on every level. It's been a nightmare.
Sharon Shearer was defrauded by Checkley previously, partly for which he was jailed in 2010. Ms Shearer said: "He hasn't done a day's work in his life other than defrauding people.... I dubbed him 'The Man With The Golden Tongue'. And that's what he is — he is an expert at what he does."
Some of a victim's money was also spent on buying this Mini Cooper (Met Police)Susan Baio used to own a nursery in Bath, Somerset, lost her business as a result of Checkley's trickery. She too suffered at the hands of Checkley prior to 2010.
When he sentenced Checkley, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, for the latest offences, the judge offered kind thoughts to the ten women who the crook defrauded. Few words will erase the trauma the con artist has caused however.
Addressing the latest victims, Judge Jonathan Laidlaw said: "I am quite certain no sentence is going to do justice, but I hope it will become clear that these are criminal offences, they are not your fault on any of these convictions."
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