‘Fraudster’ wanted for targeting gay men
Police are hunting for a suspected fraudster who targets gay men after meeting them on the internet.
Matthew Attenborough, 30, who also goes by the name of Saul White, is wanted for fraud and deception by nine police forces across the UK.
Gloucestershire police arrived at the home of a 43-year-old man in Bishops Cleeve near Cheltenham on February 20th after Mr Attenborough, who had been staying with him for over a week, allegedly disappeared with around £600 in cash and credit cards.
The victim said they had met on a website and Mr Attenborough had said his name was Saul White.
He allegedly claimed he was a police officer from Avon and Somerset who was transferring to Gloucestershire and needed a place to stay while he found permanent accommodation.
PC Melanie Earnshaw, of Gloucestershire Police, said: “This man is finding his victims on the internet. Once he has got what he wants he will then move onto his next victim it seems in a completely different area of the country.”
According to the BBC, Mr Attenborough is wanted by forces in Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, London, Doncaster, Reading, Coventry and Cardiff.
PC Earnshaw is urging anyone with information to contact Gloucestershire police on 0845 090 1234, quoting incident 461 of February 20th, or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.