Joseph Gibson, a resident of Ruthin, Denbighshire, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to multiple counts of fraud involving false cancer claims. Between July 2020 and October 2021, Gibson defrauded three women and one man of approximately £68,000, police said. Initial investigations had estimated the amount at around £80,000.

The court heard that Gibson manipulated his victims by fabricating stories about battling cancer, accompanied by photographs and text messages intended to support his deception. Evidence provided by Avon and Somerset Police included images of Gibson in a hospital bed wearing a face mask, as well as a blood catheter taped to his wrist visible along with a hospital identification band.

In messages to his victims, Gibson falsely claimed his cancer had returned and described undergoing radiotherapy treatments. One text read, “I think the cancer is back x,” followed by, “See the DR, it’s cancer and he wants to start radio Tuesday. Do not tell anyone please x. Yeah, it is deffo cancer.” On other occasions, while pretending to be hospitalized, he sent messages requesting money for clothing deliveries, stating, “Nothing design haha and have to delivered to the hospital and I’ll pay you when out if can’t I understand but can’t ask anyone else.”

Prosecutor Ellen MacAnaw told the court that Gibson repeatedly assured his victims he was seriously ill with cancer and exploited this narrative to solicit funds. His first victim, a businesswoman from Devon whom he met through a dating app, initially sent £100 after being told he was ill and under financial pressure. Over a period of four months, she lost more than £5,200 after receiving the misleading photographs and communications, depleting her bank balance to just 93p.

Gibson also presented himself as a wealthy individual worth hundreds of millions of pounds, claiming to own multiple businesses and luxury assets such as yachts, the prosecutor added. These false representations were part of his strategy to gain the victims’ trust and financial support, the court was told.

The sentence reflects the court’s view of the severity and premeditated nature of Gibson’s offenses, which involved exploiting vulnerable individuals through calculated falsehoods about his health and financial status.