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Con man 'killed suspicious lover' Con man 'killed suspicious lover'
(10 minutes later)
A married man was killed by his convicted con artist lover with a fire extinguisher after becoming suspicious of his past, a court has heard.A married man was killed by his convicted con artist lover with a fire extinguisher after becoming suspicious of his past, a court has heard.
Gareth MacDonald, 30, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, had left his wife and children for ex-British Airways steward Glenn Rycroft, the Old Bailey heard.Gareth MacDonald, 30, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, had left his wife and children for ex-British Airways steward Glenn Rycroft, the Old Bailey heard.
Mr Macdonald was killed in a Travelodge hotel room in Heston services, Middlesex in September 2007. Mr Macdonald was killed in a Travelodge hotel room at Heston services, near London in September 2007.
Mr Rycroft, 33, of Holywell, Flintshire, denies murder.Mr Rycroft, 33, of Holywell, Flintshire, denies murder.
Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting, told the London court: "The defendant murdered Gareth MacDonald by hitting him twice over the head with a fire extinguisher." Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant murdered Gareth MacDonald by hitting him twice over the head with a fire extinguisher."
The couple had stayed overnight in the room at Heston services and Mr Rycroft was seen on CCTV driving off at 7am. The jury were told that couple had stayed overnight in the hotel where Mr Rycroft was seen on CCTV driving off at 7am.
Mr Aylett said by this time he had already murdered Mr MacDonald - but he came back shortly afterwards and after returning to the room ran to the reception asking for an ambulance, the court heard. Mr Rycroft - who the prosecution claimed had already murdered Mr MacDonald by that stage - returned shortly afterwards and after returning to the room ran to the reception asking for an ambulance.
This defendant has shown himself to be rather more than a common-or-garden liar, he is rather a good one Crispin Aylett QC, prosecutingThis defendant has shown himself to be rather more than a common-or-garden liar, he is rather a good one Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting
"Inside the room, Gareth MacDonald was lying face down on the bed. He was wearing only his underpants," said Mr Aylett."Inside the room, Gareth MacDonald was lying face down on the bed. He was wearing only his underpants," said Mr Aylett.
"There was blood everywhere as a result of two large, curved cuts to the back of Mr MacDonald's head."There was blood everywhere as a result of two large, curved cuts to the back of Mr MacDonald's head.
"The weapon was still close at hand. On the floor, by the side of the bed, was a blood-stained fire extinguisher."The weapon was still close at hand. On the floor, by the side of the bed, was a blood-stained fire extinguisher.
"Gareth MacDonald had obviously been struck with the base of the fire extinguisher. He had been struck with such force that he was already dead." Mr MacDonald, a father of three, married his childhood sweetheart two years before he was killed.
Mr MacDonald, a father of three, married his childhood sweetheart Eirlys Lloyd two years before he was killed. But after meeting Mr Rycroft over the internet in 2006, he separated from his wife and moved in with him in north Wales.
But after meeting Mr Rycroft via the internet in 2006, Mr MacDonald left his wife and moved in with him to his parents' former home in north Wales. But, the court heard, the relationship was becoming strained by the summer of 2007.
However, the court heard their relationship was becoming strained by the summer of 2007.
Text messagesText messages
The court was told Mr MacDonald became suspicious about his lover emptying his bank account after his card was refused in a shop and he sent Mr Rycroft a series of text messages about his suspicions. The day before Mr MacDonald died, the couple had travelled to meet Mr Rycroft's aunt and uncle to pay back £5,000 he owed them after he had encouraged them and others to put money into a fraudulent investment scheme he had set up.
The day before Mr MacDonald died, the couple had travelled to meet Mr Rycroft's aunt and uncle to pay back £5,000 he owed them after he had encouraged them to put money into a fraudulent investment scheme he had set up. It was en route to their house that the couple became lost and pulled into a Travelodge, the jury was told.
But the court heard the pair got lost and ended up having to stay in a Travel Lodge.
Mr Aylett said: "There is most likely no single reason why the defendant murdered Gareth MacDonald that morning.Mr Aylett said: "There is most likely no single reason why the defendant murdered Gareth MacDonald that morning.
"What happened in that hotel room would seem to be a culmination of a series of different factors, not least of which was the desire not to lose face in the eyes of his aunt and uncle."What happened in that hotel room would seem to be a culmination of a series of different factors, not least of which was the desire not to lose face in the eyes of his aunt and uncle.
"But there were other reasons - the defendant's relationship with Gareth MacDonald had not been going well, the defendant was under a great deal of financial pressure, and then there is the personality of the defendant himself.""But there were other reasons - the defendant's relationship with Gareth MacDonald had not been going well, the defendant was under a great deal of financial pressure, and then there is the personality of the defendant himself."
Mr Aylett said Mr Rycroft had already been prepared to take an "extreme step" - of pretending he had cancer - to get out of difficulties in the past.
Mr Rycroft, who is originally from Salford, Greater Manchester, had previously cheated friends and colleagues of more than £200,000 in a fraudulent investment scheme and by pretending he had cancer, the court was told.Mr Rycroft, who is originally from Salford, Greater Manchester, had previously cheated friends and colleagues of more than £200,000 in a fraudulent investment scheme and by pretending he had cancer, the court was told.
Victim In November 2000, Mr Rycroft went on unpaid leave claiming falsely that he had a cancerous brain tumour, the court was told.
In September 2000, while working for BA, Mr Rycroft had started telling family and friends about a scheme called a "British Airways Investment Bond" that was "entirely bogus", said Mr Aylett. He shaved his head to pretend he had been receiving chemotherapy and forged a letter from a doctor appearing to confirm his condition.
Investors were promised returns of between 10 and 15% over a period of 12 to 18 months, the court heard. Then Mr Rycroft borrowed money after telling his family and friends that he needed expensive medical treatment that was only available in Australia.
Among those who fell victim to the scam were Mr Rycroft's uncle John Rowlands who gave £5,000 and the defendant's brother-in-law Paul Shaw, who gave £26,000.
The mother of an old school friend and her sister both handed over their life savings of £43,000 and £55,000.
All of them lost all or nearly all of their money.
In November 2000, Mr Rycroft went on unpaid leave from his job and later resigned claiming falsely that he had a cancerous brain tumour, the court was told.
He shaved his head to pretend he had been receiving chemotherapy and forged a letter from a doctor appearing to confirm his condition, meanwhile accusing Mr Shaw, who wanted his money back, of being "insensitive".
Then Mr Rycroft told his family and friends that he needed expensive medical treatment that was only available in Australia.
Over a period of just over a year he took 11 holidays Crispin Aylett QC, prosecutingOver a period of just over a year he took 11 holidays Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting
His brother Paul borrowed £10,000 and handed over £15,000 in all while the family friend who had previously invested £15,000 in the bogus BA scheme contributed £5,000 towards the treatment.
Mr Aylett said: "Fund-raising events were organised, collections took place at local clubs, raffle tickets were sold on the basis that British Airways had donated a number of free flights.Mr Aylett said: "Fund-raising events were organised, collections took place at local clubs, raffle tickets were sold on the basis that British Airways had donated a number of free flights.
"All the while, the defendant was travelling the world and living high on hock. Over a period of just over a year he took 11 holidays."All the while, the defendant was travelling the world and living high on hock. Over a period of just over a year he took 11 holidays.
"He travelled to Florida and the Bahamas. He had a golfing holiday in Portugal. He then went to America.
"In July 2001, on the pretext of going for treatment, he travelled to Australia with two of his friends. They stayed in expensive hotels with the defendant paying all the bills."
Raffle prizes
The fraud was exposed when a BA colleague started asking questions about the raffle prizes apparently being offered.The fraud was exposed when a BA colleague started asking questions about the raffle prizes apparently being offered.
In December 2003 he admitted 25 charges of obtaining money by deception to the tune of more than £200,000, none of which has ever been recovered.In December 2003 he admitted 25 charges of obtaining money by deception to the tune of more than £200,000, none of which has ever been recovered.
Mr Aylett said: "This defendant has shown himself to be rather more than a common-or-garden liar. He is rather a good one.
"The fact that he had shown himself to be dishonest in the past is relevant to his relationship with Gareth MacDonald."
"Mr MacDonald no longer felt that he could trust the defendant."
The trial continues.The trial continues.