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Timothy Barnes, a financial adviser residing in a small Warwickshire community, betrayed the trust of those closest to him by deceiving friends and neighbors out of nearly £2 million. Known to most as Paul, Barnes had earned a reputation as a trustworthy and respected individual within his village. However, this façade masked a calculated scheme where he borrowed substantial sums under false pretenses from a wide circle of acquaintances, including a criminal lawyer, over a six-month period.
One of his victims, Carolyne Ryan-Bell, shared a deeply personal connection with Barnes that spanned around 25 years. Their families had grown close, sharing holidays, birthdays, and regular social gatherings, which had naturally fostered a strong bond of trust. When Barnes claimed he urgently required £40,000 to cover an inheritance tax bill after his mother’s death, Ryan-Bell did not hesitate to lend the money, believing it would be repaid swiftly. “When somebody you’ve known for that long asks to borrow money, you don’t question it. I had absolutely no reason not to believe him,” she stated.
The trust shattered as Barnes repeatedly failed to return the funds, offering excuse after excuse. Ryan-Bell later discovered she was just one of many individuals Barnes had exploited, with a total of 36 people falling victim to his fraud during the period from November 2022 to May 2023. He falsely claimed to be settling death duties related to his mother’s passing, borrowing large amounts not only from friends and neighbors but also from unrelated parties such as the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust, where he was chairman. Police investigations revealed that Barnes had used the stolen money to invest in cryptocurrency wallets.
Michele and Liam McFall, a couple from Stratford-upon-Avon, were also deceived by Barnes after a relationship that began over a decade earlier while planning their retirement. They had trusted his financial advice and regarded him as a personal friend. In 2022, they lent him £10,000 following his request, believing it would be repaid quickly, supported by a signed agreement which was later identified as forged. The couple experienced significant distress due to the missing funds, which were needed to finalize a house purchase. Barnes was sentenced to 11 years in prison in June after admitting multiple counts of fraud and related offences
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