How Amateur Footballer Joseph Regan Manipulated and Stole From Women He Met On Dating Sites
Key Highlights :
Joseph Regan, 22, of Cardiff, was an amateur footballer for Cardiff Corinthians FC when he conned two women he had met on dating sites into setting up gambling accounts from which he drained more than £1,500. On Tuesday, Cardiff Crown Court heard how Regan had manipulated his victims, a teacher from Cardiff and a nurse from Bristol, between December 2021 and February 2022, stealing £1,420 from his first victim and £210 from his second.
The teacher, who managed to claim back £350 from her bank, described how Regan was "very forward" at the beginning of their short relationship and was "very charming and attentive". She said: "He was putting on this front, he was saying he loved me and I thought that was so forward. He was saying we should go on holiday together. This was just three weeks and to some degree I had fallen for it."
The teacher said he talked her into letting him use her card to open a Bet365 account. She said: "He would send pictures of his card and say ‘Why don’t you trust me? I have sent my cards to you’. He was calling me stupid and stuff. I had feelings towards him so I thought he must be genuine. I didn’t see how someone could do this to me."
The first victim discovered money had been taken from her account while travelling on a bus from London to Cardiff. She said: "I was in a state of panic, I hadn’t bought any Christmas presents.... At first I thought I had spent this money myself. I didn’t know what to do, I thought it was just a mistake and no one would do this to me."
The second victim began a casual relationship with Regan after matching on Hinge and he asked her to open a Bet365 account while staying at her home. She said: "When I said no he automatically changed his mood and got really funny, short and snappy because he didn’t get his way." The defendant persuaded her to let him use his card details, but he left early the next morning and the nurse realised her card was the wrong way round in her purse. She said: " I text him and asked if he had been in my purse. He was asking ‘Why are you accusing me” and was being really rude.... He was very blunt and derogative."
In the following days, money started coming out of her bank account and Regan refused to answer her calls. Describing the impact of the theft, she said: "I had just bought a new car, I had to pay for my insurance, rent. I was in a panic and ‘Oh my god what am I going to do'.
Both victims independently contact the police and Action Fraud, which led to Regan's arrest. He initially denied the offences and claimed he was given permission to use the victims' money to gamble.
Joseph Regan stole money from women he met on dating sites by conning them into opening gambling accounts from which he drained their funds (Image: WalesOnline)
In mitigation, defence barrister Kevin Seal said his client was "ashamed" of the offences and was going through a "difficult patch" of gambling addiction. He said the defendant was now on a road to recovery and has the offer of employment. Sentencing, Recorder Neil Owen-Casey said: "Y ou duped your victims, you spun them a story about how they would be helping you. It’s not disputed you would get free bets but you have shown this was repeated behaviour. Even when you have got the opportunity to get that free bet you have gone on and gone on and gone on and continued taking money from their account when you had no permission to do so and they were unaware."
Regan was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to carry out a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement and 60 hours unpaid work, and was ordered to pay compensation of £1,280 in compensation.
Speaking about her experience, the teacher said: "It’s a big lesson learnt, don’t trust anyone. I wouldn’t leave my purse out. If you date someone, vet them out as much as you can. Don’t trust anyone on social media, especially if they’re being so forward. It wasn’t until I spoke to my friend I realised something was wrong so speak up. Unfortunately for me I learnt the hard way." The nurse said: "He is a manipulative and arrogant person who thinks he is untouchable. He is literally a nobody and has nothing going for himself. "I have not been on any dating apps, I refuse to go on it because I am scared it will happen to me again. He could have really hurt me or I could have disappeared or something. People don’t emphasise how scary and dangerous dating can be. When you’re young you think it’s all fun but with my experience I am much less lenient."
Joseph Regan's case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online dating and of trusting people too quickly. It is essential to be vigilant and to take precautions when meeting someone new online, to ensure that you do not fall victim to a similar situation. It is also important to remember that if you do find yourself in a situation like this, you should not be afraid to contact the police and report it.
