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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Charmer jailed for conning lover | Charmer jailed for conning lover |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A man accused of tricking a French millionairess out of money has been sentenced to a year in jail. | A man accused of tricking a French millionairess out of money has been sentenced to a year in jail. |
| Frank Hogart, 72, from Belgravia, west London, stole nearly £60,000 from lover and businesswoman Catherine Daudin, 53, Southwark Crown Court was told. | Frank Hogart, 72, from Belgravia, west London, stole nearly £60,000 from lover and businesswoman Catherine Daudin, 53, Southwark Crown Court was told. |
| He posed as a top international tax lawyer with homes around the world. | He posed as a top international tax lawyer with homes around the world. |
| Hogart, who claimed he was "set up" for refusing to marry Ms Daudin, was convicted of 18 counts of forgery from March 2001 to April 2002. | Hogart, who claimed he was "set up" for refusing to marry Ms Daudin, was convicted of 18 counts of forgery from March 2001 to April 2002. |
| Hogart also pretended to have impressive linguistic skills and an exciting childhood in Egypt and Morocco with a Scottish diplomat father. | Hogart also pretended to have impressive linguistic skills and an exciting childhood in Egypt and Morocco with a Scottish diplomat father. |
| 'Web of deceit' | 'Web of deceit' |
| London's Southwark Crown Court heard that during their two-year relationship, Ms Daudin showered him with clothes, let him move into her luxury apartment and gave him the leadership of one of her companies. | London's Southwark Crown Court heard that during their two-year relationship, Ms Daudin showered him with clothes, let him move into her luxury apartment and gave him the leadership of one of her companies. |
| In return, Ms Daudin, who was the head of a corporate gift and kitchenware consultancy empire, received a "tangled web of deceit". | In return, Ms Daudin, who was the head of a corporate gift and kitchenware consultancy empire, received a "tangled web of deceit". |
| Hogart even claimed to have cancer and also made up a story about having a daughter who died in a tragic accident. | Hogart even claimed to have cancer and also made up a story about having a daughter who died in a tragic accident. |
| Referred to as being "blinded by love", Ms Daudin even forgave him for two-timing her with a former girlfriend. | Referred to as being "blinded by love", Ms Daudin even forgave him for two-timing her with a former girlfriend. |
| Ms Daudin had showered Mr Hogart with gifts | Ms Daudin had showered Mr Hogart with gifts |
| The judge told Hogart: "You were found guilty by the jury of mean and despicable offences against your former partner who showed you kindness and generosity. | The judge told Hogart: "You were found guilty by the jury of mean and despicable offences against your former partner who showed you kindness and generosity. |
| "The convictions amount to sustained breaches of trust and they are aggravated by the offences of forgery with which you tried to cover up your dishonesty." | "The convictions amount to sustained breaches of trust and they are aggravated by the offences of forgery with which you tried to cover up your dishonesty." |
| He was told that despite pleas for a suspended sentence, the seriousness of his crimes meant that prison was inevitable. | He was told that despite pleas for a suspended sentence, the seriousness of his crimes meant that prison was inevitable. |
| But the judge told him that because of his age and "his somewhat parlous state of health" he would halve his two-year sentence. | But the judge told him that because of his age and "his somewhat parlous state of health" he would halve his two-year sentence. |
| He would also be disqualified from being a company director for 12 years. | He would also be disqualified from being a company director for 12 years. |
| Hogart's solicitor, Richard Cannon, said his client intended to appeal against his conviction. |