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Man who cheated friends faces jail
A CROOKED financial advisor who conned his friends out of more than £600,000 is to be jailed.
John Sheldon Williams was warned he faces an "inevitable custodial sentence" after he was convicted of 35 counts of theft.
The 71-year-old, of Lowton Road, St Annes, convinced close friends to invest sums of up to 120,000 – with most never seeing their money again.
A jury at Preston Crown Court returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all 35 charges.
Williams will now be sentenced on March 22.
Judge Simon Newell told him: "You will have to be aware that as a result of the conviction for these offences custody will follow.
"The length of that custodial sentence will be for me to now assess."
During a three-week trial, prosecuting barrister Peter Horgan described Williams as "a conman" who appeared genuine and trustworthy to those who thought of him as a "trusted friend".
FOR THE FULL STORY SEE FRIDAY'S GAZETTE.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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