Man admits scamming dating app user out of £9,000

A man has admitted scamming someone he met on a dating app out of more than £9,000.

Adam Mowle, 34, of Larksfield Crescent, Harwich in Essex, pleaded guilty to acquiring criminal property at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Suffolk Trading Standards said Mowle posed as a woman on the app in 2019 and asked a man for money to cope with illness and financial difficulties.

He will be sentenced on 18 March and was told by the judge he could face a prison sentence.

In a statement from the victim, who does not want to be named but lives in Suffolk, he said he believed "this was the start of a long-term relationship".

He said finding out about the fraud "destroyed" his mental health, led to "spiralling depression" and he had considered taking his own life.

The statement said it had cost him "any chance of having a relationship due to my lack of trust".

Lee Nunn, senior Suffolk Trading Standards officer, paid tribute to the victim for coming forward and said the prosecution was possible due to his "courage and determination".

Nunn said Mowle had used his "detailed knowledge of the victim's local area to build trust" and showed "complete disregard for the emotional and financial wellbeing" for his victim.

He said there were other victims who thought they were paying money to Jenna Smith, the fake persona used by Mowle, but "felt unable to come forward to support the investigation".

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