A WOMAN who let a conman infiltrate her family's life after he posed as an airline pilot said she is struggling to rebuild her shattered life.
The 40-year-old victim from Exeter spoke out as her former partner Timothy Giles was jailed after admitting fraud.
The court heard how Giles conned numerous women out of cash by posing as a pilot, fireman and police officer.
He backed up his lies with fake photos – one using a lookalike in a pilot's uniform and another dressed in policeman's gear with an automatic gun across his chest making out he was in armed response.
Giles, 46, who lives near Swindon, met the women through dating websites and lured them into his make-believe world of lies.
One of them was a mother of two young children from Exeter. He posed as a Qantas pilot and she lent him £320 during their romance that she never got back but after the case she said the emotional toll far outweighed any financial loss.
Giles was jailed for a total of 10 weeks by District Judge Stephen Nichols sitting at Exeter Magistrates Court.
Passing sentence on Tuesday, the judge said Giles had caused "havoc" in his victims' lives.
After the sentencing, the victim said: "I want to move on but I can never forget him and what he did to me and my two children. I want to and I am really trying to.
"I would love to just write him off now the court case is over but I can't. The impact and damage of what he has done far outweighs the crimes he has committed.
"Nothing will make up for what he did. It was not just a matter of stealing. It was the effect he had on my life and the mess he left behind.
"I am glad he has been punished but he did not rectify the damage. I did think he would get off scot free though.
"To me the whole process just seemed like a bit of a joke. It has been a waiting game and going on for nearly a year. It has just prolonged the agony."
Giles's own lawyer Nick Bradley said: "His behaviour during this period of time can be properly described as outrageous frankly.
"Mr Giles accepts he obtained the money from the victim at a time when he was falsely representing his status and employment circumstances.
"As a result had she known the truth of his background and circumstances she would not have given him the money."
Prosecutor Chris Bittlestone said: "Giles was living a more basic and less grandiose lifestyle if the surface was scratched."
Giles also failed to hand over £65 in sponsorship money from a charity cycle ride to Children's' Hospice South West. He had persuaded friends and family of another lady friend to give him sponsorship money but kept some for himself. On this occasion he made out he was firefighter.
He also ripped off his toilet firm by using their fuel fob for his own gain, stealing £978 using a green Land Rover Discovery.
And the court heard he has a previous conviction for pretending to be a police officer, for which he received a conditional discharge.
Mr Bittlestone said that during their relationship, the 40-year-old twice lent him cash but it was never paid back. The prosecutor said the children saw him as "a father figure" while he lived with them.
Mr Bradley admitted his client's behaviour had a "devastating effect on others" and explained that he had been hurt when his long marriage broke up and he was jobless.
Giles admitted six counts of fraud by false representation and one theft and was jailed for a total of 70 days – he will serve half behind bars. The judge also ordered him to pay compensation.
After the case, Det Con Moira Hamilton said: "Giles is a dating agency nightmare. I am sure there are other victims."
