We treated fraudster like a son, say conned couple

"He took advantage of us and he ruined our lives," say Charlie and Val Gwilliam

A couple have spoken about how they were conned out of more than £100,000 by a fraudster who posed as a generous millionaire high-flyer.

Charlie and Val Gwilliam met Layne Perry at a livery yard where they kept their horses and bonded over their shared love of animals.

The couple, from Bridgend, thought of Perry as a son and trusted him, but said he "ruined our lives".

He was exposed as a conman and has been jailed for seven years after being found guilty of 23 counts of fraud at Cardiff Crown Court.

Judge Paul Hobson said he "ruthlessly targeted" his victims.

“Every gambler knows there comes a time when the stake has to be paid, for you that day has come.”

“I detect no hint of remorse for what you did to these people.”

Perry, 39, told them he was a wealthy businessman, and a top class horse rider. He said he was going to buy a country house and wanted them to live there.

"He took advantage of us and he ruined our lives," the couple said.

He called Charlie, 67, his best friend and promised the couple he would always have their back.

They trusted him, even with a key to their home. He abused their trust, breaking into their online bank accounts and setting up credit cards and loans in their name and spending the money on helicopter trips, horses and fine dining.

He claimed to be a lottery winner, a millionaire who regularly won thousands at casinos and betting shops.

In fact he was a fraudster and a fantasist who lived in a rented caravan in Trecco Bay in Porthcawl.

Layne Perry was found guilty of 23 counts of fraud at Cardiff Crown Court after conning three people of almost £250,000.

Charlie, a retired delivery driver, remembered being pleased to see him at the stables. They would share a can of beer and talk after feeding and looking after their horses.

He thought of Perry - whom they called Lee - as a son.

Perry told him he was going to marry his girlfriend Sarina and wanted Charlie to be his best man. He was worried about making a speech.

But that was not the only thing that concerned Charlie. Perry's behaviour did not seem right.

"He would come to the farm and he'd say 'I've just been over the bookies in Broadlands just down the road' and he'd open his wallet and he'd say 'look at that. I've just won £11,000'," said Charlie.

"I would say 'why are you carrying that around?'.

"It was so he could show it to everyone. He wanted people to know how rich he was. He wanted everyone to believe he was a really rich man and intelligent, a businessman. But he wasn't. He was just a fraudster."

How was conman Layne Perry caught?

The scale of Perry's deceit was only uncovered when the couple realised their post had been redirected.

A neighbour who worked for the Post Office offered to find out why the couple had not received letters or even junk mail for months.

More than 30 letters for the Gwilliams were waiting at a sorting office to be sent to another address, they discovered.

Among the Christmas cards and junk mail there were bank statements. They showed money from the loans and credit cards had flowed into their accounts, then out to Perry's.

Sharan Jones, 71, from Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, had also been targeted by Perry.

Over a year, Perry slowly but systematically drained their bank accounts and applied for multiple cards and loans.

For Charlie and Val, the verdicts and his prison sentence are a vindication.

Val said: "We're relieved. Our names have been cleared of crimes we didn't commit and he can't do this to anyone else.

"It's what he deserves for what he's done."

Horses and rescue dogs 'keep us going'

Val, 72, said the shock and horror of Perry's crimes drove her to think about ending her life.

It was only the thought of her beloved horses and rescue dogs which, she said, kept her alive.

"They have given us a purpose. I don't think we would have made it without the animals to keep us going to be honest. Going over the farm and seeing them means everything."

The health of both has suffered as a result. Charlie has been diagnosed with heart failure, and Val with depression.

'We're not wanting to trust people'

Four years since Perry's crimes were uncovered, Charlie and Val are still suffering.

Their credit rating has been damaged and they are still being pursued by debt management companies about the money Perry took.

Just this week, Charlie tried to get a new mobile phone contract. His application was rejected. The phone shop would not even give him a sim card.

They said the detectives who led the investigation have spoken to the debt companies, but the calls and letters keep coming.

They wonder when the nightmare is going to end.

Val says, "At our time of life, we don't need this hassle. I should be enjoying my life now, not spending my life worrying what tomorrow's going to bring."

They do not want to trust anyone again.

"We haven’t been out for the last few years, basically we're not wanting to trust people.

"When someone offers you something nice or wants to do something nice we're thinking is there an ulterior motive behind it? It's so hard, it really is."

So why did Perry defraud three decent, honest people, whose only mistake was to trust him and treat him as part of their family?

Val and Charlie said the past four years gave them plenty of time to think about the answer.

"He wanted people to love him, that's what it was. He was looking people to say 'look at that Lee Perry, he's a lovely boy. He'll do anything, he'll take you out. Money's no object.'

"He just wanted everyone to know who he was and how much money he had... which was nothing really, because it wasn't his money."