Conman Layne Perry moves prison after threats, court told

Layne Perry was found guilty of 23 counts of fraud at and jailed for seven years in December

A fraudster who stole more than £300,000 from three elderly people has been moved from Cardiff Prison because of threats, a court has heard.

Former soldier Layne Perry claimed to be a millionaire, but was living in a rented caravan in Trecco Bay, Porthcawl, in Bridgend county.

In December, Perry, 39, originally from Bridgend, was jailed for seven years.

He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court by video from HMP Berwyn, Wrexham, for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.

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Perry's barrister Justin Hugheston-Roberts told Judge Lucy Crowther further bank accounts belonging to Perry had been discovered.

He said his client was "anxious to get the matter resolved" and explained that Perry had been moved from Cardiff to Wrexham because of what he described as "threats to his personal safety".

Val and Charlie Gwiliam said they thought of Perry as a son before he defrauded them

The court heard that Perry's three victims had said their lives had been destroyed by his greed and cruelty.

Val Gwiliam, 72, from Bridgend, said the distress caused by Perry led her to consider taking her life.

Detectives are still trying unravel the complex finances and trace cash and assets Perry gained during the 18-month fraud.

Perry met two of his victims, Ms Gwiliam and her husband Charlie, 67, at stables in the Vale of Glamorgan, where they both kept horses.

His third victim, Sharan Jones, 71, from Rhondda Cynon Taf, is the mother of Perry's sister's partner Theo.

Perry met her at a Christmas party and offered to help with her finances after the death of her husband in 2017.

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After gaining her trust and access to her online bank accounts, he took her money and set up loans and credit cards in her name. He did the same with the Gwiliams.

He told all three he had made a fortune in gold, showing them bags of cash and even a gold bar. He persuaded Mr Gwiliam to invest in a business scheme involving the buying and selling of gold.

Mr Gwiliam said he had been pressured into it and did not want to do it.

He became close to all three. The Gwiliams said they thought of him as a son.

But all the time he was taking money from them, leaving them facing huge credit card bills and final demands for unpaid loans.

All three believed he was a wealthy and generous friend who wanted to share his good fortune with them, taking them on helicopter rides and VIP trips to the races.

In fact, he was spending their savings, or money from loans and credit cards on the lavish trips and high end restaurants.

The true scale of the fraud was only uncovered when the Gwiliams realised he had redirected their mail.

When Mr Gwiliam told him and his wife were going to report the fraud to the police, Perry warned him the stress of his barrister's cross examination of Mrs Gwiliam would "put her in hospital or in the ground."

The next Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is due to be held on 14 June.