Worcester internet dating conman bankrupted wife, court told

Matthew Samuels denies 11 counts of fraud at Worcester Crown Court

A man accused of conning a string of women out of more than £180,000 in an internet lonely hearts scam left his wife bankrupt, a court has heard.

Matthew Samuels told women he met on dating websites he was "one of the richest men in the UK", a jury at Worcester Crown Court heard.

The 50-year-old from Worcester was adept at juggling relationships to obtain money, the prosecution said.

An alleged victim was an elderly widow. Mr Samuels denies 11 fraud charges.

Mr Samuels' ex-wife, Caroline Morris, from Lichfield, Staffordshire, told the court he ran up debts of £150,000 in her name.

The mother to seven of his children said: "He borrowed on every single credit card I had. I had a £20,000 M&S loan, I had American Express loan me some money...and had to go bankrupt in the end."

Widow

Mr Samuels, of Broadway Grove, St Johns, is accused of defrauding five women, including a widow and a serving police officer, between 2011 and 2015.

The jury heard how West Mercia Police Detective Nicola Bull was allegedly drawn in by Samuels, who is accused of conning her out of almost £12,000.

He is also said to have cheated mother-of-three Anne Ruddock, from Ledbury in Herefordshire, out of £45,000 and Alfreda Roberts, a 78-year-old widow from Ipswich, out of £110,000 of the money her husband left her.

Mr Samuels is also accused of cheating his stepson out of thousands of pounds.

The trial continues.