A CONMAN who stole £4,000 from a woman who believed he was her partner has been jailed for 28 months and ordered to pay her £2,000 compensation.
Police officers found from the moment John Cronin met his Coventry victim he was intent on conning her.
Cronin was so convincing that when he first disappeared with her cash, the woman, who thought they were a couple, was so concerned about his safety she reported him to the police as a missing person.
It was only later when officers started to unravel what had happened that it became clear the 49-year-old had disappeared, taking her money with him.
Investigators found Cronin’s lies had started at their very first meeting on June 20, 2019, at a pub in Coventry when he introduced himself as Shane Clancy.
Cronin portrayed himself as a successful businessman with strong links to churches in Coventry and Birmingham.
He handed her a business card – but the details on it were fake, the company was fictitious and the phone numbers did not exist.
The couple struck up a relationship and about a month later the woman was persuaded to withdraw £4,000 from her bank account, believing they were buying a car.
Cronin convinced her to let him hold the money for safe keeping but then left the Birmingham city centre pub where they had been dining, and vanished.
She contacted West Midlands Police within a couple of hours but at that stage she was just worried he was missing.
With support from specially trained officers in the Public Protection Unit the woman, aged 57, provided vital details about Cronin and his tactics.
Her information, alongside scrutiny of his phone records, bank details and interviews with witnesses led to Cronin being arrested at his home in Solihull in November last year.
Cronin of Guernsey Drive, Smiths Wood, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft when he appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court last month (September).
He was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday (Friday) and was ordered to pay his victim £2,000 in compensation.
Investigating officer Kevin Bird from the Public Protection Unit, said: “This has been a complex investigation to unpick the lies that Cronin told, and to get to the truth.
“I am delighted for the innocent victim that not only is Cronin now behind bars but that he has been ordered to pay her back £2,000.
“We hope that this result will also serve as a warning that we will pursue those who prey on others for their own gain.
Anyone who has been a victim of fraud can report it HERE.
