'We need to stop and report romance fraudsters' says Devon victim - who urges more women to come forwards
Police called Mr Gibson 'confident and manipulative' as he begins a three-year jail term
A woman from Devon - who was conned by a man she met on a dating app - is urging others to come forwards to stop perpetrators approaching more victims
Joseph Gibson, of Ruthin in Denbighshire is starting a three-year fail term for conning four victims out of almost £68,000.
The 35 year old claimed to be a special forces soldier-turned multi-millionaire cancer patient.
Zoe says it was a horrible crime, adding: "The fact that you can meet in person, I think, makes you subconsiously form a level of trust and you believe they are genuine and real.
"I was brought up that you simply don't lie, so I've realised I was far too trusting.
"It's opened my eyes that some people have no moral compass."
Bristol Crown Court heard Gibson lied about having cancer, being in the special forces, owning luxury yachts and cars, and being worth £400m to manipulate his victims into paying him.
"When I realised what had actually happened I was sick to my stomach," said Zoe after she had sent him money to invest in her business.
Last week Gibson admitted he had been unable to raise the sum to repay his victims and could only provide £15,000 until more funds became available.
He told Recorder Jaron Crooknorth that he could save £5,000 per month for compensation and asked for his sentence to be deferred for a further nine months to fully repay his victims.
However, the judge refused that request and instead jailed Gibson for three years and two months. The judge also ordered the start of proceedings to recover money gained through his fraud.
Lead investigator Jenny Williams said: “Joseph Gibson is a confident and manipulative man who developed an extensive web of lies for his own personal gain.
"The impact of fraud on victims can often be profound and long-lasting, and those duped by Gibson have been left with significant debt, a loss of trust and the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.
"His deception has left his victims struggling to come to terms with the extent of his dishonesty.
"Even when challenged, Gibson continued to fabricate new lies to conceal the truth. In some cases, his manipulation left victims feeling isolated and unable to discuss what they were experiencing with others.
"I want to recognise the courage and resilience they’ve shown throughout this lengthy and complex investigation. It’s taken several years to reach this point, but they’ve remained engaged and supportive throughout.
“By sharing their experiences and supporting this prosecution, they will give other victims of fraud the confidence to come forward and seek support."