A man who fabricated a distinguished military career and a life of wealth to defraud two women he met on dating applications has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. David Griffiths, 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by misrepresentation, having deceived Joanne Brandon-Hodgkinson and Helen Moorefield out of thousands of pounds. The victims have chosen to speak out, hoping their experience will serve as a warning to others who might fall prey to similar scams.

A Fabricated Persona: Wealthy Pilot and Ex-Army Major

Griffiths presented himself as a successful and affluent individual, weaving tales of a past service as an Army major, even claiming to have served alongside Prince Harry. He also boasted of having substantial financial resources, reportedly over half a million pounds. These elaborate lies were crafted to gain the trust and financial contributions of the women he met online. He was from Malvern, Worcestershire.

The Deception of Joanne Brandon-Hodgkinson

Joanne Brandon-Hodgkinson, a 56-year-old NHS director from Torfaen, met Griffiths on the dating app Hinge in August 2022. She described him as handsome, well-educated, and knowledgeable. Griffiths embellished his background, telling Joanne about a distinguished Army career and his current role as an operations director for a helicopter company in London. Later, he claimed to be working as a search and rescue pilot for Bristow Helicopters at RAF Saint Athan in South Wales.

As their relationship progressed, Joanne noticed concerning patterns. Griffiths frequently claimed to not have his bank cards with him when payments were due. When he started his new role, he cited a delay in his pay and convinced Joanne to lend him money for essential items like new clothes and a smartwatch. The deception escalated when Griffiths proposed booking an exclusive holiday to Dubai and Thailand for their extended families. Joanne paid him back for her share, believing the trip was confirmed, having seen itineraries and received a booking reference number.

The elaborate charade began to unravel when Griffiths expressed interest in purchasing a £650,000 house in Llantwit Major, near his supposed workplace. He presented himself as a cash buyer, having allegedly sold his farmhouse. He even involved Joanne in the process, visiting the property and meeting the homeowner, Amanda Sarll. However, a relative of Griffiths discovered the property sale details and, upon learning of his history, contacted the estate agent. The agent subsequently informed Amanda Sarll, who then contacted Joanne to reveal Griffiths’ true identity and fraudulent nature. The revelation led Joanne to contact the police and her bank, and she discovered the holiday booking reference was fictitious.

Griffiths initially denied the accusations but eventually admitted to lying, attributing his actions to feelings of inadequacy. Joanne ended the relationship in July 2023, having been defrauded of £4,500.

Helen Moorefield’s Experience with the Fraudster

Just over a month after Joanne ended the relationship, Griffiths met Helen Moorefield, a 57-year-old business owner from South Gloucestershire, on Bumble. Helen was drawn to his charisma and engaging conversations. Griffiths continued his pattern of deception, showing Helen pictures of his alleged Army service and claiming he flew with Prince Harry and had been shot down in a helicopter.

As the relationship developed, Griffiths became increasingly unreliable, frequently cancelling plans. He fabricated stories, including the death of his sister and a car crash involving his son, to explain his absences. He also continued his habit of misplacing bank cards, leaving Helen to cover expenses. He similarly claimed to have booked an exclusive safari holiday, for which Helen reimbursed him.

Griffiths’ deceit was exposed when Helen’s son initiated a Clare’s Law application, a process to check for a history of abusive offending. Police involvement in the investigation revealed Griffiths’ prior fraud offenses to Helen. She was defrauded of £10,178.42.

Justice and Aftermath

Griffiths was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for the fraud charges. Both women expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived leniency of the sentence, feeling it did not fully account for the emotional and psychological impact of his actions. Joanne stated that while she consented to a sexual relationship, she would not have done so had she known the truth, suggesting that the law should consider such deception a violation of trust akin to a crime.

Both victims have since had the defrauded amounts reimbursed by their respective banks. Investigations into Griffiths’ claims revealed that his military service was limited to the Territorial Army (now Army Reserve) and he was a former Army Cadet Force volunteer. Bristow Helicopters confirmed he had never been employed by them.

The women also shared frustrations with the police investigation process. Joanne reported poor communication and a lack of seriousness from Gwent Police, who stated that an apology was issued for a lapse in communication during the investigation and that all fraud reports are taken seriously. Helen described the questioning process as an ordeal and had to facilitate information sharing between police forces. Avon and Somerset Police, which initially handled Helen’s case, apologized for any additional distress caused during the lengthy investigation.

Despite initial feelings of shame, both Joanne and Helen have resolved not to blame themselves. They emphasize that Griffiths is the perpetrator, responsible for infiltrating their lives and finances, and that he should be the one to bear the shame, not the victims.