A LOVE rat was jailed for eight years yesterday after being convicted of a lonely hearts scam conning five women out of £180,000.
Victim Anne Ruddock said she felt like Matthew Samuels, 50, had “raped” her in her harrowing victim statement.
The dad of ten targeted the single women in a three-year online dating hustle.
Ms Ruddock said: “Matthew might not have raped me but I feel like he did. I can’t believe someone could have been so evil to me. This man has destroyed me. I can’t see myself having a relationship again.
“I honestly did feel like I was better off dying. He has taken Anne Ruddock from me. This has robbed me of everything.”
The court heard how used car salesman Samuels lived in a “menage-a-trois” with two lovers he fleeced.
She told the court: “He was funny, friendly and well spoken when I met him.”
Other victims included West Mercia Police detective Nicola Bull, who he took £12,000 from after meeting her online.
Samuels also hit widow Alfreda Roberts, 79, for £110,000 after meeting her when he hooked up with her daughter Marion on MatchAffinity.com.
Larissa’s statement read: “He is the only person I ever loved. He made me love him. Matthew has killed all the feelings in me and taken all my money.”
Samuels, of Worcester, refused to say where the cash went but prosecutors said he bought an Aston Martin and a £44,000 Bentley GT Continental.
Judge Michael Cullum told him: “You blight the lives of everyone who has the misfortune to get to know you.”
He was cleared of credit card fraud against Nicola Bull and conning his stepson Alexander.
Samuels shook his head after each guilty verdict was read out.
Post a Comment