…By Judah Olanisebee for TDPel Media.
Romance Fraudster Receives Jail Sentence After Swindling Women Out of £200,000
In a case of deceit and betrayal, Sajad Hussain, a 45-year-old resident of Swindon, Wiltshire, has been sentenced to five years and four months in prison for defrauding three women out of over £200,000.
The Swindon Crown Court heard how Hussain, using a false identity, manipulated the women he met on online dating sites, weaving a web of lies to deceive them and extort money.
Each victim believed she was in a genuine and loving relationship with Hussain, going on dates and envisioning a future together.
They willingly handed over the money he demanded, trusting his assurances that it would be repaid.
However, the truth was far from their romantic illusions.
Hussain adopted false identities, claiming to be a police officer and fabricating various tragic stories involving his family, such as his father’s skiing accident, his father’s death, and his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis.
The court revealed that one victim resorted to selling her family’s gold heirlooms, while others borrowed money from their parents to meet Hussain’s demands.
The judge, Jason Taylor KC, condemned Hussain’s actions, describing how he insinuated himself into the lives of these women, exploiting their trust and emotions for financial gain.
He highlighted the stark contrast between the victims, who fell in love with the deceitful Hussain, and the perpetrator himself, who demonstrated a callous disregard for their well-being.
The consequences of Hussain’s crimes have been devastating for the victims, who now suffer from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and financial hardship.
Despite expressing regret and embarrassment, the judge questioned the sincerity of Hussain’s remorse, suggesting it may not equate to genuine remorse.
During the trial, it was revealed that Hussain used aliases, including Sanjay Gill and Sanjay Patel, to communicate with the women through a secret Nokia phone.
He even showed one victim a rented room, falsely claiming it was his accommodation when, in reality, he owned two properties and was married.
Hussain’s deceitful acts resulted in losses of more than £15,000, £102,422, over £37,000, and almost £49,000, along with precious family jewelry.
Two of the victims reported Hussain to the police and Action Fraud once their relationships with him ended.
In October 2020, Hussain was apprehended at his home, where he resided with his wife, whom he married in 2018.
The police discovered betting slips in his car and the hidden Nokia phone inside a pair of gloves in a cardboard box.
Further investigations revealed Hussain’s substantial gambling habit, with £135,000 leaving his bank account between 2013 and 2020 for online gambling.
The victims recounted the emotional and financial impact of Hussain’s crimes in their victim personal statements.
One described feeling violated and lamented the loss of not only money but also priceless family heirlooms.
Another expressed feelings of stupidity, shame, and guilt for falling prey to Hussain’s lies, which led her to take out a high-interest loan to repay her family.
During the court proceedings, Hussain’s defense attorney, James Tucker, acknowledged his client’s mental health and personal problems, presenting them as mitigating factors.
Tucker emphasized that Hussain’s actions were driven by the need to pay off personal debts and bills rather than funding a lavish lifestyle.
The case is set to continue under the Proceeds of Crime Act at a later date to determine any confiscation of assets.
In the meantime, the victims face the challenging task of rebuilding their lives after being deceived by a calculated romance fraudster.