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An internet Romeo who fleeced lonely women out of more than £100,000 has been forced to pay his victims back by police.
David Davies, 52, contacted wealthy women from all over the world on dating sites and persuaded them to part with their life savings by spinning them a story that their future lay together.
Charismatic and persuasive, he pretended to work for the SAS and lured them with imaginary tales of his top secret work. But as soon as the money was transferred, Davies, of Belper, Derbys, dropped them and moved on to another conquest.
Derbyshire Police instigated criminal proceedings but they were dropped after one of his alleged victims withdrew her statement. But, working with detectives in America, where he also targeted victims, they pursued Davies through the civil courts.
On Tuesday, magistrates in Derby ordered Davies to pay back two of his victims £107,000, which was seized when police found it in cash hidden in a strong box in his Porsche.
Alison Clarke, a police solicitor, said: "Davies preys on vulnerable women, and our primary concern was that the victims were compensated. We think justice has been done at last."
It is not know exactly how many women he targeted but the court heard that Davies' master plan began to crumble two years ago after a woman in Santa Barbara, California, complained to the police that he was conning her.
Davies was arrested in the US but released and then deported after agreeing to pay the woman compensation.
On his arrival back in Britain, in May 2005, he was arrested by Derbyshire police on suspicion of obtaining money by deception.
Davies, who always denied deception, refused to comment after the case.
By Nick Britten
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