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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Maya Oppenheim

‘As long he is breathing, I’m not safe’: romance fraud victim flees UK after jailed conman is freed

Richard Robinson was sentenced to 10 years on charges including fraud, theft, witness intimidation and battery.
Richard Robinson was sentenced to 10 years on charges including fraud, theft, witness intimidation and battery. Photograph: Sussex Police/PA

The first time Yvonne met Gary Rogers he arrived at her house in a shiny black Range Rover smelling of Armani Code perfume, with neatly gelled silver hair. It was August 2017, and Yvonne’s ex-husband had suggested she ask the motor dealer, known locally as the “Jag man”, to fix her car.

Yvonne* says their relationship developed slowly. “Gary” boasted he had been spending time on his 42-ft boat, claimed to own two houses, and once turned up in a Porsche to take her for a drink. As they began to see more of each other, he would arrive at Yvonne’s house with freshly cut fruit and smoked salmon, always with a wad of money on him.

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