Good news for male escorts in the UK, now there is one less con-man to worry about. Michael Goldsmith, 40, of Menai Bridge, Gwynedd, Wales, was caught out when he tried to con the same victim twice!
Goldsmith served eight months in prison after he was convicted of fraud for similar offences in 2008. As soon as he was released, he began emailing and messaging gay escorts again.
He ‘d find the escorts online and promise money to travel to Wales to stay with him in hotels and small B&Bs. Most came from the London area.
Goldsmith would write bad cheques to the hotel owners and mock up emails to the escorts with the insignia of his bank when they asked for payment.
In August 2009, a previous victim of Goldsmith’s called the police to say that the conman had got in touch with him again, unaware of who the escort was. During an investigation, police found a further 14 victims, including some of the hotel owners. Eventually, Goldsmith was charged with seventeen counts of fraud by false representation and remanded in custody.
He pleaded guilty to ten charges and Kingston Court and was given three years in jail.
DC Colin Dady of Southwark Police, who investigated the case, said: “This is the second time I have investigated Mr Goldsmith for fraud. I would have hoped that he had learned his lesson from the last time.
“This investigation has taken a year to get to court because of the number of victims and complexity of the case. I am very pleased however, with the guilty plea. I would like to thank the victims for coming forward to the police and their cooperation during the investigation and my colleagues in North Wales for their assistance.”
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