‘Charming’ fraudster conned millionairess he met on Tinder out of £140,000 to fund his ‘high living’
A "CHARMING" crook swindled a millionairess he met on Tinder out of nearly £150,000 to fund his "high living", a court heard.
Richard Dexter bragged of being "involved in Hollywood studios", flying by private jet and buying a hot air balloon "just because he could" as he romanced Amrita Sebastian.
The handsome con artist spun her a web of lies, even as she lay seriously ill in hospital.
He claimed he was on the verge of a "big windfall" from stakes in biopharmaceutical technology.
And he convinced his victim, an executive based in Dubai, to lend him money to buy new high-tech equipment that would make him a fortune.
She sent him a series of payments totalling £141,500 over 15 months.
Dexter claimed he had more than £4.2million tied up in the investment account, and would pay her £100,000 "interest" on the loans.
In fact it was his friend's account and had just 37p in it.
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The money he stole funded his "high living" including £15,000 to a classic car company.
Dexter, 38, has never apologised to his victim, who suffered lasting mental health problems following his deception, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.
The dad-of-two, of Southsea, Hants, looked over at his sobbing girlfriend in court as he was sent to jail for four and a half years today.
Judge Timothy Mousley QC branded him "profoundly dishonest".
The judge said: "You are someone who shows no hesitation in resorting to lies with an ease that is almost breathtaking.
"When your truthfulness is challenged you reach for more lies to cover your tracks."
Indian national Miss Sebastian, who travels to the UK twice a year, matched with Dexter on Tinder in August 2015.
Prosecutor Robert Bryan said: "He claimed he was a successful businessman selling biopharma technology and he said he was worth £6.8million and was involved in Hollywood studios.
"He alluded to his immense wealth and private jets, expensive cars, and said he had more by way of interest in his investments than a doctor's salary."
In one text to Miss Sebastian, he said: "Hey! I'm 32, most of my friends did uni and have debts and worries and all earn £40,000 to £60,000. I bought a hot air balloon yesterday just because I could."
He claimed international companies 3M and Pall Corp were willing to sign deals with him worth up to £12million.
Pall and 3M have never had any contact with Dexter, the court heard.
Dexter persuaded Miss Sebastian he needed capital to start production of a piece of scientific equipment he called a "bioreactor paddle".
Over the course of 15 months, she made a series of payments up to £68,000 each.
By the end of 2016, when his finances were in "dire straits", Dexter convinced her to send him the final £5,500.
Miss Sebastian described him as "desperate" for more, adding: "Because he had so much of my money already I felt trapped to keep him onside and I felt the £5,500 was a small loan."
Web of lies
Later, as Miss Sebastian pleaded to have her money back, Dexter lied that he had "closed a deal with 3M for £3.6million" and she was entitled to £1.8million.
That was followed by further lies to string her along.
His lies collapsed in April 2018 when she reported the fraud and police raided his home.
One businessman Dexter had contact with, Roy Maunder, said: "His stories came across as fanciful.
"He was a liar but a likeable character, he was a charmer."
Dexter - who maintains he has "just over £200,000 in cryptocurrency assets" - admitted seven counts of fraud.
He denied perverting the course of justice and forging patent documents but was convicted by a jury.
John Lucas, defending, pleaded for "mercy" as the conman is "likeable and a very good father".
He claimed: "He was in debt, he had debts to close friends. He got himself into a pickle and was investing in Bitcoin unsuccessfully.
"This man will not offend again. He's charming and dresses well. He's a well educated young man who made a big error of judgement."
Dexter, who sobbed during today's hearing, told the court: "I haven't been able to put into words what I would say to [Miss Sebastian] if she was here.
"[I have not] had any courage to contact her or put it onto paper, but I'm very, very sorry to the point that I think about it every day, from the minute I wake up until I go to sleep.
"I can't justify myself for what I did."
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A hearing to determine if he will pay back the money was set for April 7.
The case comes after Netflix doc The Tinder Swindler highlighted brazen conman Simon Leviev, who duped women all over Europe while posing as a playboy diamond merchant.