A man has been sentenced to jail after deceiving another man into believing they were in a relationship, ultimately swindling him out of £177,000. Joshua Teale, 30, manipulated his victim for over three years by fabricating stories such as his mother’s death and needing financial assistance due to contracting Covid, all while squandering the money on gambling platforms.

During the court hearing at Leeds Crown Court on July 17, the victim expressed his devastation, stating, “I sacrificed years of my life for nothing. This person even claimed his mother had passed away, which turned out to be false. He drained me of everything, and I endured significant hardships to support him.”

The victim recounted how he endured financial strain, sleep deprivation, and resorted to taking out loans to cater to Teale’s demands. Teale and the victim initially met at Arla Foods factory in Leeds in 2018 and formed a friendship, with the victim being unaware of Teale’s sexual orientation.

Following Teale’s abrupt departure from the workplace, the two reconnected at a McDonald’s in 2020, where Teale requested financial aid under false pretenses. Subsequently, Teale continued to exploit the victim by fabricating his mother’s death and seeking ongoing financial support, accompanied by forged legal documents to validate his claims.

Teale escalated his deceit by pretending to be in hospitals in London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, manipulating the victim into providing financial assistance under the guise of a romantic relationship. However, Teale’s fraudulent activities raised suspicions at the victim’s bank, leading to his arrest in May 2023 after the bank initiated safeguarding procedures and involved the authorities.

Teale, who admitted to struggling with a gambling addiction, refrained from confessing his guilt until the day of his trial, where he pleaded guilty to a single count of fraud. His defense attorney highlighted Teale’s gambling addiction but acknowledged it did not excuse his actions, labeling the offense as “mean.”

The judge, Recorder Richard Paige, emphasized the calculated nature of Teale’s deception, acknowledging the severe financial and emotional toll inflicted upon the victim. Consequently, Teale was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for orchestrating a premeditated and sustained fraudulent scheme.