A man described as Britain's most prolific romance fraudster has been handed a landmark 17-year prison sentence for conning vulnerable women out of almost £1 million, which he then lost through online gambling.
A Web of Lies and Financial Ruin
Nigel Baker, a 56-year-old gambling addict from Romford, Essex, systematically targeted five divorced single mothers he met on platforms including Plenty of Fish. Over eight years, from 2012 to 2020, he spun elaborate lies, presenting himself as a successful businessman and loving family man seeking a long-term partner.
In reality, he was a compulsive gambler who convinced his victims to hand over their life savings, assuring them their money was safe and involved 'zero risk'. He falsely claimed to be an online bookmaker rather than a punter. The women, who included police officers, businesswomen, an NHS nurse, and an accountant, were persuaded to take out loans as large as £200,000 and even sell their homes to fund what he called his betting 'business'.
The Devastating Human Cost
The emotional impact on the victims and their families was profound. One divorced police officer, who gave Baker nearly £80,000, told Snaresbrook Crown Court she felt 'ashamed, disgusted and used'. Reading her statement, she described him as a 'dangerous predator' and said the realisation of his deception left her feeling 'violated'.
An accountant and grandmother in her sixties, who took out a £200,000 bridging loan against her home, said Baker had 'humiliated' her. She told the court: 'He needs to pay for every life he ruined, for every penny he took by misrepresenting the true person he was and is. He is a predator, and predators need to be locked up and the key thrown away.'
Baker fabricated desperate stories to extract cash, claiming he could not feed his children, needed to repair his father's boiler, or pay vet bills. In one instance, he warned a victim that a London gang would kill him unless she transferred £50,000.
Unprecedented Sentence and Chilling Exit
Following a month-long trial earlier this year, a jury unanimously convicted Baker of 18 counts of fraud by false representation. Jailing him, His Honour Judge Charles Falk branded him a 'complete charlatan' and stated the 17-year term is believed to be the longest ever imposed in Britain for a romance fraud case.
The judge said Baker had 'mercilessly and cynically exploited' the trust of his victims, discarding them once their funds were exhausted before returning to dating apps for new targets. Shockingly, as he was led from the dock, Baker muttered 'Happy Christmas', prompting gasps from those in court.
The scale of the losses was staggering. One Betfair account, funded by a victim and controlled by Baker, racked up total losses of nearly £4 million. The same successful businesswoman paid a net total of £281,540 directly to Baker's accounts. The court heard that other alleged victims have since come forward, suggesting the total stolen may far exceed £1 million.
In mitigation, Baker's lawyer cited prison overcrowding, his gambling addiction, and PTSD from the 1989 Marchioness disaster. Judge Falk, however, emphasised Baker's calculated cruelty, stating: 'You were fully aware that they would lose all their money and of the emotional and financial devastation you would cause - but you did not care. You are an entirely selfish individual that women need to be protected from.'
