A man described as Britain's most prolific romance fraudster has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for a cruel scam that targeted single mothers online.
A Web of Lies and Financial Ruin
Nigel Baker, aged 56, used dating apps to find his victims, convincing five women to hand over huge sums of money. He presented himself as an online bookmaker running a "zero risk" betting business and promised a shared future, including marriage, to lure them in.
In reality, prosecutors told Snaresbrook Crown Court that the money funded Baker's own gambling addiction. The women, who included a police officer, accountants, and businesswomen, were persuaded to take out loans, sell property, and drain their life savings.
The total losses exceeded one million pounds, with one victim's linked Betfair account showing losses of nearly four million. His crimes spanned eight years, from 2012 to 2020.
Emotional Testimonies from Victims
The court heard heartbreaking statements from the women Baker deceived. One victim, a police officer who lost almost £80,000, said the emotional damage was profound.
"The realisation has left me feeling violated in a way that is difficult to put into words," she said. "What I thought was love and connection was manipulation and deceit for financial gain."
Another victim, a grandmother and accountant in her sixties, urged the judge for a harsh sentence. "He is a predator, and predators need to be locked up and the key thrown away," she stated, describing the overwhelming humiliation and financial loss her family endured.
Other devastating cases included:
- An NHS nurse who handed over savings meant for her child's wedding.
- A woman who took out a £200,000 bridging loan against her home.
Baker frequently invented emergencies to demand more cash, claiming he needed money to feed his children, fix a boiler, or pay vet bills. He even threatened one woman, saying a London gang would kill him unless she transferred £50,000.
Justice Served with a Lengthy Sentence
After a month-long trial, Baker was unanimously convicted of 18 counts of fraud by false representation. The 17-year sentence is believed to be the longest ever imposed in the UK for romance fraud.
Sentencing him, His Honour Judge Charles Falk called Baker a "charlatan" who had "mercilessly and cynically exploited" the women's trust for pure financial gain. The judge noted Baker would discard victims once they had no more money and immediately search for new targets on dating apps.
In a final act of callousness, as he was led away, Baker muttered "Happy Christmas," causing gasps in the courtroom. His defence lawyer cited prison overcrowding, a gambling addiction, and post-traumatic stress from the 1989 Marchioness disaster in mitigation.
