A Reading man has been jailed after defrauding victims out of almost £190,000 in what prosecutors described as a significant fraud.
Simon John Turner, 49, from Reading, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court after admitting offences linked to a scheme in which victims were deceived into handing over large sums of money.
The court heard the fraud totalled around £190,000, with multiple victims suffering financial losses.
Judge sentencing said the offending involved planning and caused serious harm to those targeted.
The defendant was given a custodial sentence and ordered to repay money under proceeds of crime legislation, with authorities seeking to recover funds where possible.
Investigators said the case highlighted the devastating impact fraud can have on victims, both financially and emotionally.
A spokesperson for the prosecution said complex financial inquiries helped uncover the scale of the offending and bring the case before the courts.
Fraud remains a priority for police and enforcement agencies, who continue to warn the public to be cautious of scams and suspicious investment or payment requests.
Separate recent cases have seen courts impose substantial sentences in major fraud and scam investigations involving victims in the Reading area.
