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The many faces of a serial conman | The many faces of a serial conman |
(about 3 hours later) | |
By Marie Jackson BBC News Bint has previously been told he has an untreatable psychopathic disorder | By Marie Jackson BBC News Bint has previously been told he has an untreatable psychopathic disorder |
He has impersonated an aristocrat, a ballet dancer, a banker, a doctor, a playboy and a policeman. | He has impersonated an aristocrat, a ballet dancer, a banker, a doctor, a playboy and a policeman. |
In his latest incarnation, Paul Bint, a homeless conman, took the name of one of Britain's most senior legal minds, Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, to pose as a successful criminal barrister. | In his latest incarnation, Paul Bint, a homeless conman, took the name of one of Britain's most senior legal minds, Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, to pose as a successful criminal barrister. |
Wearing a pin-striped suit and carrying a bundle of papers tied with a ribbon, he managed to convince women he found in lonely hearts adverts that he was a well-connected, wealthy romantic. | Wearing a pin-striped suit and carrying a bundle of papers tied with a ribbon, he managed to convince women he found in lonely hearts adverts that he was a well-connected, wealthy romantic. |
In truth, he is a former hairdresser surviving on benefits with a string of convictions who has been given the moniker "King Con" by the tabloid press. | In truth, he is a former hairdresser surviving on benefits with a string of convictions who has been given the moniker "King Con" by the tabloid press. |
Goldeneye car | Goldeneye car |
With a little research and good acting skills, Bint, 47, wooed women. | With a little research and good acting skills, Bint, 47, wooed women. |
He boasted of a friendship with Robbie Williams and a former marriage to British comedy actress Sarah Alexander, the star of Coupling and Green Wing who is actually married to fellow actor Peter Serafinowicz. | He boasted of a friendship with Robbie Williams and a former marriage to British comedy actress Sarah Alexander, the star of Coupling and Green Wing who is actually married to fellow actor Peter Serafinowicz. |
He also told them he drove the Aston Martin used in James Bond film Goldeneye and promised to take them on exotic holidays. | He also told them he drove the Aston Martin used in James Bond film Goldeneye and promised to take them on exotic holidays. |
And when another man appeared to be competing for one woman's affections, he warned her off by accusing his rival of beating women. | And when another man appeared to be competing for one woman's affections, he warned her off by accusing his rival of beating women. |
Bint passed himself off as director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer | Bint passed himself off as director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer |
On Monday, a jury at Southwark Crown Court found Bint guilty of five counts including theft and fraud by false representation during the weeks he spent posing as a lawyer in April and May this year. | On Monday, a jury at Southwark Crown Court found Bint guilty of five counts including theft and fraud by false representation during the weeks he spent posing as a lawyer in April and May this year. |
He was cleared of 11 further offences of credit card fraud and driving while disqualified. | He was cleared of 11 further offences of credit card fraud and driving while disqualified. |
The convictions are nothing new however. His 25-year history of offending has seen him con cash, expensive cars and hotel suites out of a string of victims. | The convictions are nothing new however. His 25-year history of offending has seen him con cash, expensive cars and hotel suites out of a string of victims. |
Bint's penchant for role play first came to light in 1983, when he was discovered posing as a locum doctor at hospitals in north-west England. | Bint's penchant for role play first came to light in 1983, when he was discovered posing as a locum doctor at hospitals in north-west England. |
It emerged he groped a woman's breast, saying: "Trust me, I'm a doctor." He also tried to bluff his way into a heart bypass operation. | It emerged he groped a woman's breast, saying: "Trust me, I'm a doctor." He also tried to bluff his way into a heart bypass operation. |
Later, he moved on to elaborate car scams, often posing as a wealthy aristocrat or businessman interested in top-of-the-range models. | Later, he moved on to elaborate car scams, often posing as a wealthy aristocrat or businessman interested in top-of-the-range models. |
In August 2000, Bint was jailed for nine months at Newcastle Crown Court for conning rail chiefs into putting him up in a luxury hotel by pretending to be a QC in the Lockerbie bombing trial. | In August 2000, Bint was jailed for nine months at Newcastle Crown Court for conning rail chiefs into putting him up in a luxury hotel by pretending to be a QC in the Lockerbie bombing trial. |
Three years later, he tricked a hospital consultant into believing he was Orlando Pownall QC, a prosecuting lawyer in the Jill Dando murder case. | Three years later, he tricked a hospital consultant into believing he was Orlando Pownall QC, a prosecuting lawyer in the Jill Dando murder case. |
Bint stole £60 and her gold credit card after she let him stay at her Hampstead home to recover from a make-believe car crash. | Bint stole £60 and her gold credit card after she let him stay at her Hampstead home to recover from a make-believe car crash. |
Bint told women he had been married to actress Sarah Alexander | Bint told women he had been married to actress Sarah Alexander |
At the sentencing, the judge said a psychiatric report concluded that Bint was suffering from an untreatable psychopathic disorder. | At the sentencing, the judge said a psychiatric report concluded that Bint was suffering from an untreatable psychopathic disorder. |
Over the years, other people have tried to see into Bint's mind and fathom his motivation. | Over the years, other people have tried to see into Bint's mind and fathom his motivation. |
In the latest trial, prosecutors suggested Bint had been motivated by financial gains, but also by a need to boost his own self-esteem. | In the latest trial, prosecutors suggested Bint had been motivated by financial gains, but also by a need to boost his own self-esteem. |
Bint, himself, rejected the notion he was a conman, saying he could have stolen "hundreds of thousands" of pounds but never had. | Bint, himself, rejected the notion he was a conman, saying he could have stolen "hundreds of thousands" of pounds but never had. |
He said pretending made him feel good, even though he knew he was deceiving people. | He said pretending made him feel good, even though he knew he was deceiving people. |
"It makes me feel very good that someone thinks I am a good person and I'm successful," he told jurors. | "It makes me feel very good that someone thinks I am a good person and I'm successful," he told jurors. |
His desire to escape his own identity has been linked to an unhappy youth spent in a children's home after his parents split up. | His desire to escape his own identity has been linked to an unhappy youth spent in a children's home after his parents split up. |
Some years ago, Bint told BBC's Everyman programme: "I would like to stop pretending I am something I am not and accept I am what I am. | Some years ago, Bint told BBC's Everyman programme: "I would like to stop pretending I am something I am not and accept I am what I am. |
"I have spent my life running away from things that are extremely painful to me. Others drink or take drugs to escape, but the way I have done it is by being other people." | "I have spent my life running away from things that are extremely painful to me. Others drink or take drugs to escape, but the way I have done it is by being other people." |
But the sincerity of Bint's remarks to the programme remains uncertain. | But the sincerity of Bint's remarks to the programme remains uncertain. |
He also told Everyman about another scam in which he had stolen a red Ferrari from an earl. But when programme makers contacted the earl, he said he had never heard of Bint - nor had he ever owned a red Ferrari. |
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