Joseph Gibson would repeatedly tell his victims he needed cash for cancer treatmentEllie Gosley Senior Reporter and Rod Minchin Press Association
09:20, 04 Jul 2026
Joseph Gibson leaving court (Image: Rod Minchin/PA Wire)
A conman from Wales took tens of thousands of pounds from victims by claiming he was a former special forces soldier turned multi-millionaire cancer sufferer, a court has heard. Joseph Gibson told a pack of lies including that he had served in the Special Boat Service, owned luxury yachts and cars, and was worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
The 35-year old met two of his victims on Tinder and convinced one of them they were in a relationship. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
A court heard he would repeatedly tell his victims he needed cash for cancer treatment, despite claims to be rich. He would show the women large houses and claim he was thinking of buying them.
Bristol Crown Court heard the first victim, a Devon-based businesswoman, lost over £5,200 after believing his lies, and handing over money over a four-month period to him to purchase stock for her retail business.
“He told her he was worth over £400 million and knew important people, regaling her with stories of owning lots of businesses, and showed her pictures of yachts he said he owned,” prosecutor Ellen MacAnaw said.
“In August 2020 he told her he had cancer again. He told her he had people on his back again for money. She sent him £100.”
The court heard that Gibson sent the woman photographs purporting to be him in his hospital bed, and continued to ask her for money – leaving her with just 93p in her bank account.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said his lies had meant she could no longer trust people.
“He talked about that he was good friends with two of the Dragons from Dragons’ Den and watching the programme now is tainted for me,” she said.
“It really upsets me when I hear about people having cancer because I question whether they are telling me the truth. How do you ask someone to provide evidence they are having radiotherapy or chemotherapy?”
The woman said that on one occasion Gibson asked her for money to get a taxi home from hospital but she could not afford it, so he tried walking.
“He said he had collapsed in a pool of blood and had a haemorrhage, making me feeling it was my fault because I didn’t have enough money to pay for him to get a taxi home,” she said. “I cannot comprehend that he has lied for so long.”
Within a month of last having contact with his first victim, Gibson had moved on to his second – again meeting her on Tinder.
“He said he wanted a submissive relationship where he would have control over her and in return pay her,” the prosecutor said.
“He said he was in University College London Hospital receiving treatment for radiation damage suffered while in the navy, and reportedly served in the SBS. He had a PhD and had been blown up by an IED.”
Gibson told the woman he could invest her money and make her large returns – turning £10,000 into £150,000.
“At the start of 2021 he said his cancer had returned and he needed money urgently for private treatment. She took out a £4,000 loan,” Miss MacAnaw said.
“She described having a breakdown at work because of her concern for the defendant who she believed she was in a relationship with.” He also told her he was thinking of buying a yacht in Corfu for around £6 million.
The woman took out personal loans and built up credit card debts after being conned by Gibson, and was left feeling suicidal. She lost over £21,000 and was forced to take out an Individual Voluntary Agreement to manage her debts.
“He has left me with nothing and in heavy debt,” she said in a victim impact statement. “He has broken me as a person and turned my whole world upside down.”
The third victim was a relative of the second victim, and took out loans to invest in Gibson’s bogus investment deals. In total she lost over £18,000.
The fourth victim was a former captain of a super yacht and had been taken in by Gibson’s lies about his interest in sailing and boats.
“He told him he had purchased a yacht for £7 million after selling a weapons programme to the US government for £400 million.
“The defendant is a consummate liar and he told multiple lies to him.” In total the man gave Gibson over £25,000 to invest in his businesses.
In a victim impact statement, the man said: “Joe is a psychopathic con artist who would not stop taking money from people. He is a danger to society.”
The court heard that in total Gibson conned his four victims out of just over £70,000.
The defendant, whose address was listed as Penbryn Nant in Ruthin, pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud by false representation, which occurred between July 2020 and October 2021.
James Tucker, defending, said Gibson had around £40,000 in savings to repay his victims after working in the engineering industry in the UK, Bulgaria and Dubai.
“It is clear from the pre-sentence report of his regret towards the people he has conned, not just the emotional and psychological but the financial harm,” he said.
Mr Tucker asked the court to give Gibson time to show he could repay his victims before passing sentence. Recorder Jaron Crooknorth adjourned sentence until August to allow Gibson to provide evidence of the money he says he has.
“You have someone who has deceived others and he is telling the court he has £40,000,” he said. “And here we are today at court and there is nothing. Is he just doing to us what he did to his victims?”
Addressing Gibson, the judge said: “You have heard what I have said. You must provide your solicitor with evidence so the court are able to see it.
“Don’t do to me what you have done to them.”
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