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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Dan Warburton

Husband's double heartbreak as wife is murdered then scammers steal his money

Con artists targeted the husband of murdered PCSO Julia James and stole the savings she left him.

Grieving Paul James said the scam began with a message about a parcel.

He said the thieves eventually emptied his account after an elaborate ruse and added: “All I had was money from my beloved Julia… she was taken from me and now this! I just want people to be aware of scammers.

“Please be vigilant on your phones.”

On Friday, Callum Wheeler, 22, was jailed for life – a minimum of 37 years – for killing Julia, 53.

He bludgeoned her to death with a railway jack as she walked her dog Toby near her home in Aylesham, Kent, last year.

Police Community Support Officer Julia James was killed by 22-year-old Callum Wheeler (PA)
Con artists stole the savings Julia had left Paul (PA)

Paul said outside Canterbury crown court after sentencing: “We went everywhere together. How do I do these things alone?”

Julia had noticed Wheeler before the day she died and told Paul of the “really weird dude” she had seen.

GPS and heart rate data from her Apple watch were among the evidence that secured his conviction.

His DNA was also found on the Kent Police officer’s boot, jacket and top.

Her blood was on the railway jack he used, and on his trainers.

Julia’s daughter Bethan Coles told the court no jail term was long enough for “sick, twisted” Wheeler, of Aylesham.

The murder was a “life sentence” for Julia’s whole family, she said.

Jailing Wheeler, Judge Mark Wall told him the brutal “sexually motivated” assault had clearly been planned in advance.

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