Cruel love rat ends up in a cage

Photo caption: TIP-OFF: Brisbane victim Rebecca Bell helped net conman John Harper. Picture: Mark Cranitch Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

Daryl Passmore, Jon Kaila

From:The Sunday Mail (Qld)

February 06, 2011 12:01AM

LOVE rat and serial conman Andrew J. Harper boasted of being a billionaire with luxury houses but his home for the next nine months will be prison.

The 39-year-old, who left a trail of victims with his bogus stories of life as a high-flying international businessman, pleaded guilty in a Victorian court last week to 13 charges spanning five years.

But police still want to talk to him in three other states - Queensland, NSW and South Australia - about the possibility of further charges being laid.

Harper was arrested following a tip-off after two Brisbane women, Rebecca Bell and Diana Mors, set up a website to expose and catch him.

Ms Bell was in court to see him jailed. "It's awesome," she said. "He got what he deserved.

"I wanted to be here to represent all his victims and let him know this hasn't ended.

"The sentence is a big achievement for everyone involved. It brings us one step closer to closure and helps protect others. We are all very happy."

Harper, who told women he met through internet sites that he was Australia's second-richest man and claimed tycoon Sir Richard Branson was a friend, wore a white T-shirt and green tracksuit bottoms for the 41-minute hearing at Frankston Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Magistrate Ross Betts, who also ordered Harper to repay $22,244.96, said: "You have perpetuated a premeditated, malicious and cruel, cruel deception that warrants imprisonment."

Prosecutor Darren Cathie told the court: "He claimed to be a multi-millionaire, have property in Monte Carlo with a boat and vehicles. He also claimed that he was the director of a Korean shipping company."

The victims included Victorian mum-of-two Katherine Pizzey, 36.

Harper negotiated to buy her a Maserati Gran Turismo valued at $347,000 and a $718,000 Ferrari 599 for himself.

For each purchase, penniless Harper would have contracts sent to email addresses for fake personal assistants and lawyers "to be checked over", but no money ever exchanged hands.

When his victims questioned him, Harper gave a sob story so they would let him stay in their homes.

"He stated he had cancer and was receiving chemo treatment," Mr Cathie said.

Cruel love cheat Andrew John Harper jailed

Jon Kaila

From:Sunday Herald Sun

February 06, 2011 12:00AM

A SERIAL love cheat has been sentenced to nine months' jail and ordered to repay more than $22,000 to victims after being exposed by the Sunday Herald Sun.

Andrew John Harper, 39, carried out "sophisticated" and "cruel deception" after convincing victims he was a businessman worth $1.6 billion.

The fraud convictions span five years and four victims: mother of two Katherine Pizzey, 36, of Mt Martha, Sydney mum Teresa, who doesn't wish to be identified, the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Geelong, and the Dingley International Hotel, Dingley.

Harper pleaded guilty in Frankston Magistrates Court on Wednesday to 13 charges, but police in three states - Queensland, South Australia and NSW - still want to talk to him about the possibility of further charges.

Prosecutor Darren Cathie said Harper claimed to be a multi-millionaire and the director of a Korean shipping company.

For each property purchase, penniless Harper had the contracts sent to email addresses "to be checked over" by fake personal assistants and lawyers.The court was told how he had bought two luxury cars, a Maserati and a Ferrari, totalling more than $1 million, $30,000 worth of jewellery and two homes worth a total of almost $20 million.

He even said he was receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

Harper ran up thousands of debts on his victims' credit cards.

Sentencing Harper, Magistrate Ross Betts said: "You have perpetuated a premeditated, malicious, cruel deception, which warrants imprisonment."

One of Harper's victims, Rebecca Bell, who came from Brisbane to see the conman sentenced, wants more charges laid.

"I wanted to be here to let him know this hasn't ended," Ms Bell said.