‘Evil’ Ian Beale lookalike who ‘duped women out of £400k’ after fake £9m lottery win is ‘devil incarnate’, ‘victim’ says
AN “Evil” Ian Beale lookalike who is alleged to have stolen £400,000 is a “devil” according to one of his “victims.”
John Eric Wells, who is wanted by South Yorkshire Police, has been accused of a string of so called romance frauds.
The decorator from Doncaster is said to have snaffled £400,000 from a string of lovers who fell for his tall tales.
Wells, who also goes by the names Howard Walmsley and Howard Hemmings, has been wanted by cops since September 2019.
Wells went viral when cops renewed their appeal for information – with social media users pointing out that he is the spitting image of an iconic TV character.
Hundreds rushed to Twitter to talk about his uncanny resemblance to EastEnders’ longest-serving character Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt.
Victim Hazel Wilkins, of Brighton, told how she fell for Wells after meeting him online in June 2014.
He swept her off her feet and proposed in front of her family and friends in December 2015.
They set the date four times but on each occasion he had a reason to cancel. She was then separated from her life savings of around £63,000.
Speaking to the Mirror she said : “That man has ruined my life and who knows how many others.
“I had a lovely family home, and a great job and I was happy when I met him.
“Now I have nothing and I will never be happy again. It’s too late to get back what he has taken from me. I hate him so much and I think about him and what he has done to me and my family every second of every day. He is the devil incarnate to me.”
Now her daughter, Lynsey Coleman , has now hit out at the double-dealing decorator.
Chatting to the Mirror she said: “The stress he put her through gave her PTSD. He destroyed her and he is the reason she is in a home now.”
The Yorkshire man was jailed in 2001 after he posed as a Lottery winner to save his marriage with wife Kathy and con victims out of cash.
His case even inspired the 2004 ITV film Can’t Buy Me Love, which starred Martin Kemp and Michelle Collins.
Judge Jane Shipley, who originally jailed him at Sheffield Crown Court, told him he lived in a “fantasy world”.
She added: “You wanted to aspire to the high life and appear successful, but you seem to lack what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.”
After being sent to prison, Wells laid low for 18 years – however, in 2019 he once again hit the headline.
It was then police revealed they are looking for him in connection with three high value “romance frauds”.
Lynsey added: “My mum is in a home now with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia and we know that it was made worse by him.
“She doesn’t mention him by name but she still talks about ‘that man who stole all my money’.
“It’s heartbreaking because it just shows he has ruined her life.
“The police should be going to get him. It won’t get my mum back but I could have had my mum longer.
“He ruined her life. I am desperate for justice for her. I want to be able to tell her; ‘that man has been caught and he’s in jail’. It would give her some peace.
“She’s been in two homes now, the first time was in October 2022. I don’t think she would have gone downhill so quickly if she hadn’t been through this. I truly think she is in a home because of the stress of it all.”
A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police confirmed on Friday that Wells was still wanted, saying: “Police would like to hear from anyone who has seen or spoken to Wells recently or has information which may help officers with their enquiries.
“It is possible Wells is currently living outside the UK. If you see him, or you have any information which may help, please call South Yorkshire Police on 101.”