MAN JAILED FOR FRAUD AFTER CLAIMING CANCER TO SWINDLE VICTIMS

Joseph Gibson was sentenced to three years and two months in prison at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to four counts of fraud. The 35-year-old, of Penbryn Nant in Ruthin, Wales, defrauded three women and one man of approximately £68,000 between July 2020 and October 2021. Police initially estimated the total loss at around £80,000. Gibson met two of his victims on the dating application Tinder and fabricated an elaborate narrative involving terminal illness, military service and extreme wealth to extract money from them.

One victim, who believed she was in a romantic relationship with Gibson, lost more than £21,000 after taking out personal loans and accumulating credit card debt to fund what she thought was his private cancer treatment. A second victim transferred money she believed would be invested in his business after Gibson claimed to be worth £440m. To support his deceptions, Gibson sent photographs depicting himself in a hospital bed with a face mask and medical equipment, and sent text messages claiming his cancer had returned and that he required hospital treatment. In one exchange, he asked a victim to purchase clothing for delivery to the hospital, claiming he would repay her when discharged.

Avon and Somerset Police released images and text messages as evidence of the extent of Gibson's offending. Prosecutor Ellen Macanaw told an earlier hearing that Gibson had repeatedly told his victims he had cancer. The case illustrates the techniques used in romance fraud schemes, where perpetrators establish relationships to gain financial access.