A cruel conman who posed as a wealthy American mys

A cruel conman who posed as a wealthy American mystic,
listing the Queen and the Pope amongst his clients was jailed for
seven years today (mon) by an Old Bailey judge.

Glasgow born James Finningham, 34, imprisoned Dagenham
housewife Mrs Gillian Paul, after she was taken in by his wierd
tales of the supernatural.

When Mrs Paul finally realised he was a charlatan,
penniless Finningham hoodwinked a respectable former nurse into
stealing from her friends to provide him cash, the court heard.

Finningham’s mother, once jailed with him for deception,
watched from the public gallery as Judge Geoffrey Grigson her
20-stone son: ‘You are an unscrupulous fraud.

‘
The court heard Finningham met mother-of-three Mrs
Paul, 38, through dating agency Ideal Partners – she was soon
ensnared by his web of lies.

‘He set about her total manipulation.

He was almost
a modern day Rasputin,’ said prosecutor Mr Maurice Aston.

Finningham told Mrs Paul he was wealthy American with
pnds stlg 3.

4 billion in the bank and even put on an American
accent.

In fact the only job he could find was helping to
organise a survey on London buses.

He told Mrs Paul he was
doing that job to show her he could live in her world.

As their affair developed he introduced her to his
bizarre psychic world, claiming a dead Red Indian chief White
Cloud was his spiritual contact.

Finningham went on to tell her that he was financed
by reclusive millionare Howard Hughes from beyond the grave
and that Jesus too was a psychic.

He claimed that he was second only to Christ in his
psychic powers and that he had already cured Mrs Paul of cancer
of the womb.

The phoney list of imaginary clients Finningham carried
in his brief case included the Queen, the Pope, Princess Anne,
King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and even Archbishop Desmond Tuttu.

Mrs Paul told the court that during a seance White
Cloud ordered her to give herself to Finningham ‘mentally and
physically.

‘
She added that Finningham promised her fantastic
holidays abroad and a home in America for herself and her three
children.

During his fixed seances she saw ‘astral lights’ appear
on her body and his and Finningham even conjoured up a crucifix,
claiming it had materialised from the spirit world.

Giving evidence in his own defence Finningham told the
court he was a true medium, but his case was weakened when Mr Aston
pointed out that the spirit world cross had ‘Made in Italy’ stamped
on the back.

But the ‘vulnerable’ Mrs Paul believed in him and left
her home with her young son to live with Finningham when White
Cloud told her that she would be horribly murdered in her own home
by her former boyfriend.

She was taken to Finningham’s flat in Plashet Road,
Forest Gate, e.

London which he shared with his mother and younger
brother.

Mrs Paul lived there for eight weeks and was locked in
when she saw through his lies.

Finningham kept ‘constant watch’ on her and dragged her
back into the house when she tried to escape.

When she finally got away she told police of her
terrifying ordeal.

Finningham had by then met pyschiatric nurse Margaret
Fenty, 32, through the Dateline agency and moved into her home
in Montague Road, Upper Edmonton, after they became lovers.

Soon she was visiting old friends telling them she was
to marry Finningham who was a airline pilot.

When their backs were turned she would grab credit cards
and documents from the women’s handbags.

Finningham would then ring the friend posing as a
detective and say that Fenty had been involved in an accident
and the stolen property had been recovered.

The conman then asked for the women’s PIN numbers as
proof of identity and the pair would use it to take the victim’s
cash.

One woman lost pnds stlg 1,295 to the fraudters.

Six women were preyed on, before Fenty, was arrested at
the home of Miss Beverly Hall in Westward Road, Chiswick.

Miss Hall had been alerted by another victim.

Fenty, a State Registered Nurse who had worked at the
Highlands Hospital, Enfield, later told police; ‘Jim took all the
money.

What ever he asked me to do I would do, even though it’s
wrong.

‘
She added: ‘I was scared he would run off.

‘
Finningham was convicted of falsely imprisoning Mrs
Paul between December 2 1991 and February 3 1992.

He and Fenty admitted conspiracy to defraud between
December 1 1992 and March 6 1993.

The court heard that Finningham has over 300 previous
convictions including theft, handling stolen goods and making
off without payment.

At Exeter Crown Court in 1988 he was jailed for three
years together with his mother Dorothy and another girlfriend for
various offences of dishonesty.

Police believe that at least two other women may have
been duped by Finningham but they have refused to give evidence
against him.

Passing sentence the judge told Finningham: ‘It is
perfectly plain that you exploited Mrs Paul sexually and
financially.

‘You did so without scruple and in so doing you damaged
her and you damaged her family.

‘I regard it as no coincidence that Miss Fenty’s criminal
career began when you entered her life.

‘
Turning to Fenty the judge said: ‘You stole from your
friends and that would justisfy a sentence of imprisoment.

‘But having seen Mr Finningham give evidence, I am
satisfied that, but for his involvement, you would not have acted
in the way you did.

‘In the past you have given valuable work for the
community and that stands you in good stead today.

‘
Fenty was placed on probation for two years and ordered
to do 40 hours community service.

Finningham blew a kiss to his mother as he was led away
to the cells.

Outside court Mrs Paul said: ‘He is an animal that should
have been locked up a long time ago.

He will come out and do exactly
the same thing again.

‘
Mrs Paul added: ‘I think the sentence is brilliant.

I
thought he was going to get six months.

‘
ENDS
memo Photonews have pix of Mrs Paul.

Tel 071 248 5909.

Mrs Paul’s
address is Valence Wood Road, Dagenham.

She asked for it not to
be revealed in court.

memo ends