Morning:
13°c
A City worker today told how he was conned out of cash needed for his wedding by a jeweller who stole from clients to finance a lavish lifestyle.
Ben Weller is one of hundreds of people to fall victim to fraudster Andrew Batchelor, who pocketed at least £230,000 from customers.
The thief, branded the "Menace of Mayfair", conned them out of watches, necklaces and earrings over five years. Some items were sold, the rest were pawned and one victim is understood to have lost property worth £47,000.
As Batchelor was sentenced today at Isleworth crown court after admitting fraud charges, Mr Weller told how he attempted to sell a Cartier watch to the conman. They agreed a price of £1,050 after meeting at the Westbury Hotel in the West End in 2007.
But Mr Weller, 34, said he spent months chasing his money after the cheque Batchelor had given him bounced - a trick the fraudster used on other clients. "I contacted a few jewellers and he came back with the best price so we arranged to meet in an upmarket hotel and he appeared very sophisticated and very charming," said Mr Weller.
"I needed to sell the watch to help pay for a wedding ring for my girlfriend as I was preparing to propose to her on a holiday in the Maldives. I did end up going to the Maldives and I did propose, but I also spent the entire time worrying about my money and chasing Batchelor on the phone. It was the second-most important day of my life after the wedding, and he ruined it for us."
Batchelor, 51, from Chelsea, used the money from his crimes on flamboyant spending including eyelash tinting at Harrods, five-star holidays and top hotels. Victims, including company directors, hedge fund managers and nurses, were ensnared by his website, an upmarket address for the business - The Watch and Jewellery Exchange of Mayfair - and radio advertising.
He had been jailed for seven years for another crime spree in the Nineties and began operating in London in 2003, first from offices in the West End and then Mayfair hotels or wine bars. Mr Weller, from Brentwood, Essex, chased Batchelor for four months and managed to get £300 after handing over his watch. But he never received the remainder of what he was owed.
Batchelor was arrested in July last year and bailed, before being arrested again after another complaint. Bailed once more, he set about conning more victims. He was arrested a third time in March and remanded in custody.
He has admitted six charges of deception, 22 of false representation involving property worth nearly £100,000 and one of fraudulent trading. DC Jane Hynes of the London Regional Asset Recovery Team said: "All the trappings he used, the Louis Vuitton briefcase, the Cartier pens and the opulent surroundings he met his clients in, gave him an air of respectability and establishment."
Reader views (2)
I was reading this and suddenely thought this is the guy I sold some jewellery to from a previous relationship a tiffanies watch to be exact.
He met me in Claridges hotel in Mayfair and even bought me a drink.
He gave me a cheque for the watch I noticed it wasnt limited company on the cheque.
However for some reason I sniffed a rat, called my bank which where the same bankers of his, went to the branch in Knitsbridge and they confirmed that the cheque would not clearer.
In the same day I called him up and said this, and told him i wanted the money by close of business that day or I would call the police.
He met me that day and handed me part of the cash and said he would give me the rest at a later date and couldnt return the watch as he had already sold it on.
What I cant get over is the cheek Im a educate savy person and he managed to get one over on me.
What i feel for is the all the victims of this crook there must be many many more like me... an educated city worker...
- Max, london
I went to school with Andrew and spent much of my late teenage years and beyond, in his company. Could be charming but always lived beyond his means and something of a Walter Mitty.
Was jailed in Scotland many years ago after being pursued by somewhat ironically a friend of mine in the police.
Very sad to see him turn out that way but then the only sympathy should be directed to his victims and a country who's justice system allowed him to get away with it all for so long.
- Martin, Glasgow Scotland
