A DEVIOUS conman who spun ‘a web of lies and deceit’ to a woman he met on a dating website has been jailed.

Bizarre claims made by Peter Wall, 30, of Heaton Street, Blackburn, included telling his victim he helped police track down gunmen Raoul Moat and Derrick Bird, and he had been headhunted by MI5 and MI6.

He also said he had caught wild animals on a programme hosted by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and had been an army commando.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Wall told Rebecca Kew, 25, of Todmorden, a string of lies about his past in order to get her to buy things for him.

His deceit was unmasked when she read an online Lancashire Telegraph article detailing a similar fraud he inflicted on a previous girlfriend from Clitheroe.

The court heard that his treatment of Miss Kew left her feeling ‘abused and violated’.

Judge John Potter described his behaviour as “planned, cynical and devious” and said it had caused “significant harm”.

After beginning a relationship with Miss Kew, Wall moved into her family's home in Todmorden.

The court heard that Wall told Miss Kew he had been an artillery captain in the Army and had won the military cross for his work in Afghanistan.

He also told her his mum and sister lived in Australia, his dad was dead and he had a twin sister who had died in car crash near her 21st birthday.

On another occasion he said he saved his family from a house fire at the age of eight and he was a former professional rugby player.

In fact, Wall, who has a string of previous convictions including some for similar offences, was a former logistics engineer in the army, before being discharged in 2006 on medical grounds.

He did not rise above the rank of private.

The court heard Miss Kew had given him money when he said he needed to stay at a hotel following the cancellation of a meeting.

The next day he said his friend had committed suicide, which resulted in several hundred pounds more being handed over for hotel stays.

While living with Miss Kew’s parents, Wall also said he wished to do a charity walk for Help for Heroes - which he never did.

Charity boxes were placed in Mr and Mrs Kew's fish and chip shop in Victoria Road, Todmorden.

The court was told any money collected was given to the charity by the conned parents.

As well as telling her that he loved her, Wall told Miss Kew he was earning £4,000 a month, but she became suspicious when he kept asking her to pay for things.

In July 2011 he arrived at the house in an Audi, which the court heard was owned by another woman he was seeing, before packing his bags and leaving.

At that point Miss Kew, who lost a total of £2,854.59 pounds, researched him on the internet and found he had previous convictions.

When Miss Kew contacted him asking what was going on, he replied: “You weren’t supposed to get hurt. Take care.”

In August last year he was given an 18-month community order by magistrates in Blackburn after admitting he conned his then girlfriend Charlotte Chapman, from Clitheroe, out of £1,700 pounds for a trip to Australia by pretending his mother was dead.

She was actually alive and well and living in Liverpool.

He also stole Miss Chapman’s Rolex watch - a 16th birthday present from her father.

Wall had previously pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud by false representation relating to Miss Kew.

When released, he will be the subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from using dating websites to contact women.

Sentencing him to 12 months in jail, Judge John Potter said: "This was a determined and devious course of offending designed to con Miss Kew out of money, services and accommodation.”

Daniel King, defending, said: "The defendant would like to make it clear from the outset he is deeply ashamed, embarrassed and appalled by his behaviour towards Rebecca Kew and her parents.

“He accepts he weaved a web of lies. He understands they feel abused and violated.”

Miss Kew and her family declined to comment after the case.