Conman breached court order

FRAUDULENT former stockbroker who conned close family members and friends out of hundreds and thousands of pounds breached a court order after taking out credit cards without permission.

- PHILIP DEWEY

He was previously jailed after masquerading as a wealthy and successful stockbroker to entice victims into giving him large sums of money which he said he would invest on their behalf.

James Bufton, 31, offered his victims large returns on the cash they had invested but he did not invest the money in legitimate means, instead using their money to pay back other victims and to fund the continuation of his lifestyle.

Among his victims, whom he scammed out of a total of £253,000, were his aunt and uncle, the father of a former girlfriend, and a close family friend.

Bufton also tried to claim £1.3m from HMRC in the form of a tax rebate.

The defendant developed a pattern of behaviour which would see him offer to invest assets owned by those around him, promising large returns.