A loan request inside a relationship
Prosecutors described repeated transfers for living costs, backed by promises Godden never intended to honour. He also arranged meetings with one man, then left him stranded after a long journey. The financial requests were embedded in an apparent personal commitment.
The pressure extended to reporting the conduct. According to prosecutors, Godden told one victim police would not take him seriously. One man lost more than £26,000 and accumulated substantial debt. Two others obtained bank reimbursement.
Sources: Crown Prosecution Service — Prosecution and sentencing account · City of London Police — Investigation and sentencing account
What investigators could check
Victims did report what had happened. Their reports reached the City of London Police fraud team. Investigators recovered messages and internet searches that, police said, exposed Godden's financial purpose in using the apps. His searches included questions about criminal consequences for romance scams and whether unpaid money could be reported to police.
Our reading is that the repayment promise served two purposes: it explained the immediate request and gave the recipient a reason to keep waiting. The relevant evidence went beyond whether a profile looked convincing. It included the requests, the transfers and the response when someone asked for their money back.
Sources: City of London Police — Investigation and sentencing account
Understanding the outcome
The sources agree on the prison term but differ on its precise date and the exact loss total. This account therefore uses the common, supported figure of more than £28,000.
For questions about a profile's claims, read what a phone lookup can tell you and how to check a dating profile photo. Those checks cannot establish someone's intentions or a promise to repay. Responsibility for this deception rests with the offender.
Sources & reporting dates
Explore the checks
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