Cruel Conman Targeted Grieving Families

Grieving families who were targeted by a conman posing as a private detective have spoken of the pain he inflicted.

Simon Delow, who has been jailed for 10 years, claimed he could find the facts about loved ones' deaths abroad. In reality he was a convicted fraudster with no investigative experience.

Claire Martin, 30, died of stab wounds in Italy in 2012, and the local authorities decided it was suicide. Her parents Ray and Pat, from Nottinghamshire, reject this conclusion and are fighting to get the case reopened.

They told BBC Inside Out they were contacted by Delow, who called himself Simon D'Gresser, who boasted of numerous contacts abroad as well as within Interpol.

But the Martins could not afford to pay anything to Delow. Mr Martin said:

"If I'd have had the money, or could have remortgaged the house, we could have lost quite a bit.

"To pull a con on someone who has lost somebody, to give them false hope you are helping them when there is no hope at the end of the line."

At Durham Crown Court last week Delow was jailed after admitting 10 charges of fraud by misrepresentation.

If you are facing a fraud allegation, call our team for expert, professional legal advice. Speak to us in confidence on 01159 419 141.

The Johnson Partnership

Fraud Solicitors