Michael Brock was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court

by Keith Hunt

Those who came into contact with Michael Brock could not believe how lucky he had been when he boasted he had won the lottery twice and was a multi-millionaire.

Solicitors, estate agents, guest house owners and others were keen to do business with a man who declared he was worth at least £50million and owned 65 homes.

But the reality turned out to be very different. Brock was virtually penniless and living in a small room in “a poor neighbourhood” in Medway.

Now the 53-year-old former London Underground train technician is behind bars for conning victims out of £15,597.

Judge Martin Joy said the figure by no means showed the real loss.

“For many of these victims time is literally money,” he said. “The true loss was in terms of time spent, services rendered, transactions with others put off, hopes raised and hopes dashed.”

Brock, of Barnsole Road, Gillingham, was jailed for 21 months after admitting 10 fraud offences.

Lucy Luttman, prosecuting, told Maidstone Crown Court: “This was a series of confidence frauds in which he misled and lied to a number of victims, claiming to be a rich man with extensive property interests in order to obtain money.”

“the man is wicked and i have no doubt he is a career criminal…” – victim michael pearce

His victims included Michael Pearce and his wife, who owned Pebbles Reach guest house in Whitstable.

Mr Pearce wanted to sell the house because his wife was very ill.

Brock offered to buy it. He used it as his office and even interviewed staff there.

“He gave the impression he was a legitimate businessman,” said the prosecutor.

Brock promised the couple £2,000 and they lost out on two properties they were interested in moving to.

Mr and Mrs Pearce were fleeced of £1,600. Mr Pearce told police: “The man is wicked and I have no doubt he is a career criminal.”

Miss Luttman said Brock had previous convictions for theft and in 2004 he was jailed for 12 months for dishonesty.

This is an amended version of this article. The original piece incorrectly referred to Mr Edward Foster as a victim of Brock. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.