‘He told me I could make millions – but I lost £12k’

A former Premier League footballer told his friend he could make up to £5.6m – but lost him £12,000, a court heard. Ex-Charlton Athletic defender Richard Rufus, 47, allegedly scammed friends and family out of £15m to maintain his lavish lifestyle. He drove a Bentley and lived on an exclusive private estate in Purley, south London, on the money he was swindling, Southwark Crown Court has heard. Construction engineer Vincent Nairne said he had known Rufus since 2000 and carried…