A con man who used internet dating sites to prey on lonely women has been jailed for five years.

John Keady, 44, posed as a successful businessmen to win the trust of a string of female victims.

He persuaded them to lend him large amounts of cash or invest in fictitious businesses. He stole credit cards from others and took out loans on their behalf.

Keady was jailed for five years and three months after pleading guilty to three counts of deception, five thefts and eleven frauds at Truro Crown Court.

The charges related to eight victims and involved more than £80,000 of stolen money.

But police fear Keady could have stolen more than £1 million from more than 100 female victims over a 20-year career.