A conman who fleeced a high-flying business woman he met online out of more than £55,000 after claiming he worked with Barry Manilow has been jailed for four years.
Shaun Anthony Verner, 55, managed to convince his victim, who worked for professional global services group Ernst and Young and owned a four-bedroom house in Northumberland, to give him control of her bank account.
He spun her a series of lies, claiming he owned a four-bedroom home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and ran a stage lighting business with clients including Barry Manilow.
Richard Holland, prosecuting, said the pair seemed to hit it off after they met online in January 2016, sharing a passion for travel, Portugal and music.