James Charles, 49, promised to sell the expensive items, often heirlooms with great sentimental value, for a commission, but instead kept the cash and continually lied to his many victims.
He appeared in custody at Southwark Crown Court, where approximately a dozen victims watched on as Charles was sent down yet again.
Travelling from his home in Roman Crescent, Southwick, Brighton Charles would visit victims’ homes and lie to their faces or entertain them in temporarily-rented London offices to lend credibility to his scam.
He has previously served prison sentences under the name Jamie Goatley for copycat offences and as recently as May, last year gave that name to police when arrested for driving a Mercedes while under the influence of cocaine in Old Shoreham Road, Hove.
Charles initially fought the latest charges, but on day six of his trial pleaded guilty to four counts of fraudulent trading regarding his companies Olympia Mayfair and National Gold Buyers.
There were twenty named victims regarding those counts.
He also asked for two further offences of fraudulent trading and one count of fraud by false representation to be taken into consideration.
“Over seven years in respect to goods worth over two million pounds, you took goods and never returned them or returned the full value of the sale,” Judge Martin Griffith told suited grey-haired Charles.
“You sold them almost immediately for lower than the valuation and continued to fob off customers with lies and tales, anything you could think of and sadly people just went along with it.
“We don’t know what you did with all the goods, but they were never seen again.”
Some valuables were sold to Brighton pawnbrokers and there is now a fight over ownership with those shops also victims of Charles, having paid cash for the items.
“Your previous convictions are a serious aggravating factor. You are a practiced and inveterate fraudster and have a way with words that lull your victims into trusting you,” Judge Griffith told him.
The swindler told police he only changed his name due to online harassment and the judge remarked: “It could not have been online reviews saying what a good chap you are.”
Charles was told he will have to serve at least half of the sentence in custody and on the day of his eventual release a ten-year company disqualification order will begin.
Prosecutor Anthony Hucklesby told the court Charles told a “myriad of lies” to his many trusting victims and on September 14, 2023 changed his name by deed poll.
Victims included a divorcing woman who lost her rings to Charles; a victim who feels “deeply violated” by being conned out of watches; another watch-owner who was facing bankruptcy, plus a victim left feeling “worthless”, who said: “I can’t believe I was duped by a confidence trickster.”
Another victim’s marriage broke down during the fraud, adding: “This crime has completely changed my life,” and another victim who lost their life savings was threatened by Charles, who told them: “Don’t forget I know here you live.”
One 77 year-old pensioner lost gold coins they had saved for their retirement and another victim said the offence “consumed my life.” One victim said: “I felt stupid for trusting someone.”
A female victim approaching ninety years-old was conned and another pensioner duped in their home said they were: “overwhelmed by disbelief and embarrassment.”
A woman was conned out of the watch owned by her late husband that has great sentimental value and a woman was cheated out of jewellery her parents gave her.
Another male victim was left with “severe stress and anxiety” and a woman lost a watch gifted by her husband and a man needed the money for shoulder surgery and one further male victim lost over £200,000 alone to Charles.
In July, 1999 Charles was convicted of conning an elderly lady out of her antique table and six chairs; was imprisoned for theft in 2004 and received six years in 2013 for theft and fraud.
After Charles was arrested by Sussex Police he opened two further companies Kingsley & Co and Richmond & Sterling and further people were victimised.
They include a victim, who lost a £107,000 gold bar; another who lost five watches, with Charles lying he was robbed of them and a female Ukrainian refugee swindled out of her £80,000 gold coin collection.
Victims also lost their Patek Philllippe and Rolex watches and expensive designer handbags, plus further gold coins swindled by Charles during a home visit.
That victim also ‘sold’ Charles his Ducati motorbike and supposedly received £100,000 on a prepaid card, but when he used it to withdraw £25 the conman noticed and shut it down.
Charles will be back in court on January 21, next year when a Serious Crime Prevention Order will be considered and he is also subject to Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings in an attempt to recoup the victims’ losses.
Father-of-two Charles wrote a letter to the judge claiming learning difficulties and dyslexia had set him on the wrong path in life, leading to poor decisions.
“He is at an extremely low ebb in his life,” said Paul Lazarus, defending. “He has expressed remorse and written to the court.
“He has suffered all his life with learning difficulties,” added the lawyer, which drew disbelieving laughter from the many victims in attendance.
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