A heartless antiques dealer – who fleeced elderly victims of their treasured possessions in an £800,000 scam – has been jailed for six years.
Jamie Goatley, 34, (pictured) of Mayfield Crescent, Brighton targeted pensioners all over South-West England, even persuading one gent to release the equity in his house.
He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to ten counts of theft and fraud involving eight victims in Sussex, Wiltshire, Dorset and Gloucestershire.
Goatley posed as a legitimate antique dealer, offering to sell items on behalf of the victims, but either paid them nothing or a fraction of the price he received.
Officers from Westminster Economic and Complex Crime Unit began investigating Goatley from 2009 and he was arrested a total of four times, continuing to rip-off victims while on bail for similar offences.
Police also began a detailed financial investigation and froze many of the defendant’s assets.
Detective Sergeant Shaun Reardon said: “Goatley targeted some very vulnerable victims and had no qualms about using their treasured possessions to make large sums of money for himself.
“I hope this result gives his victims some comfort and they feel reassured that a custodial sentence of this nature means he will not be able to target anyone else in this way.”
76 comments:
this individual has been operating in Kent area-if anyone has had any contact dealings with him , using Co. English Artworks Ltd , perhaps we could share information.
Yes I agree, I have just noticed something on the web back dating to 2002. Incredulous how he’s still still grooming old and vulnerable people
Do you have any video of that? I'd care to find out more details.
I believe this person is still active and targeting an elderly wealthy neighbour. Does anyone else have information they could share
What area & where? If you’re concerned you must go to the police or else what’s the point in having these opportunities to nail scumbags like him!
http://crimeline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Goatley.pdf
I have information on this man. Can you contact me?
Please can you email me at jamiegoatleyisascam@gmail.com I have info and would like yours too. Thank you.
We have no more information on this defendant/case than has been published in the post.
Please can you email me at jamiegoatleyisascam@gmail.com I have info and would like yours too. Thank you.
I was scammed by this person. He still operates.
I am a victim.
He operates every where.
Yes I have good information and I am a victim as well
I am a recent victim but I have a lot of info about him
I will call u tomortow
How can I delete my review
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Does anyone know where he lives now?
He still lives with his mum in Brighton. Loads of cameras - calls the brothers if he's confronted.
Goes by the name James Charles now due to the adverse publicity.
Company on line that he uses is called Olympia Mayfair Holdings Ltd - gets in the door by doing jewellery valuations, note not just old people he targets anyone he can see a £.
Olympiamayfair.com is his current web site.
Active in Oxfordshire/ London / Surrey / everywhere .....
He grooms victims some times over years gaining trust as a friend. Targets gay lonley old men, flirts with them.
Keep adding information as there is a monster case going on with victims clubbing together. He is going down.....
Hi can I have a contact info?
This is the ref nr of the met police fraud
6576221/22
In case another person is a victim and call you
If anyone has information this is Crime number
Hi what is your contact ?
Hi, I was just scammed by James for £12,000 and i have lots of information. I want him back in jail - please contact me so we can all collectively take him down. This is my phone number 07380260224
Anonymous - what were you scammed for? You say £12,000 but don't say what happened.. You say James but I thought this was about Jamie Goately. Very concerned as I've tried emailing (as earlier link in intro) the writer of this blog for further info and no one responds? Thanks
He goes by the names of Jamie Goatley, James Goatley, James Charles and probably others he has a business called Olympia Mayfair and here is a link to a recent review where he has had £155,000 from the victim, type in this link to your browser to view the post which will be displayed on the left hand side ( https://g.co/kgs/MDN2z4q ) - Please use the crime reference number 6576221/22 when reporting to the police otherwise they will not link them up, this way all reports will be linked, if you think that he will return your goods/pay you back, unfortunatley you are wrong, ive never been paid back, just excuse after excuse, so report him, to stop this from happening to others!.
Any contact number ?
There have been multiple requests, via email, to delete some of the comments to this post.
We have little option (to be fair to people) and take those requests at face value.
If your comment was deleted without you asking for it to be you can raise this via squaremilenews@gmail.com
I have today discovered that this man is a scam artist and have reported it to police. We were looking to sell various items of jewellery and watches found the website Olympia Mayfair on google.
James Charles came to visit us on the Isle of Man and valued our jewellery and watches. We photographed various items of ID including passport credit cards and driving licence. He came across very professionally and was very plausible. We decided to let him take the jewellery ( valued at £500k on our insurance) based upon the above and the fact we searched online and at the time there was no negative comments we could find online about the man.
We have been chasing him for payment ever since and today discovered a post on trustpilot dated 2/2/2024 where a lady had been scammed by him in the same way. She had also identified him as James Goatley who has had previous convictions for the same offences. I have today called the Brighton police to report this latest theft. The man is despicable
It is worth noting the address of Olympia Mayfair (4 old Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1) is not a showroom, but a mailbox service where multiple individuals and businesses have registered.
Do you have any contact with the detective sergeant Shaun Reardon?
Hi can I have your contact?
Hi any contact info please?
Following my post I have had numerous emails this morning from James Charles|Goatley. He is adamant that he still has my assets. He was supposed to send me flight confirmations yesterday to show he was travelling back to see me on the Isle of man but failed to do so. When this promise was broken and I discovered this blog, his horrendous background and the other recent victims comments I understandably posted as above and called the police.
The fact remains that he has taken my assets and not paid for them - which was supposed to happen before Christmas. Every time he promises the money is on its way it never arrives. I am driven to distraction chasing this man! He now admits he has no cash to pay me having told me all along he had enough funds to cover all he owes.
If he sends me the flight details and delivers my assets back to me I will immediately post and let you know. I am not holding my breath though because if he does that it will be the first time he done what he says he will do for me!
Since my post yesterday I have had numerous emails from James Charles (Goatley) saying that he still has my assets in his safe and has not sold them.
Yesterday we agreed he was to send me flight details by return for a trip to see me to return my goods. A day later he still hasn’t sent those - the latest in a litany of broken promises. I then discovered the horror stories both past and present re this man on both this blog and Trustpilot.
The fact remains he took possession of my assets on the 5th December and it was agreed he would pay me in full before Christmas. He has paid me not a penny to date despite a comical list of promises to send money first from Tode Bank, then Barclays and the latest one - Clydesdale bank. No monies have arrived and he has now admitted he has no cash.
If he does return my assets I will post immediately and let you know. I am not holding my breath!!
Hi kevin any contact info?
I have also been scammed by this shady guy….is there a phone number for a detective/lawyer managing the case?
What is your number?
Can you email me at toffeepudding88@gmail.com, we are all victims. We’ll try to link our cases together.
We too are victims of 'James Charles' who took 2 items from us, sold them on our behalf back in October and has not paid us in full what is owed.
We have had the same story on his bank issues that he spun to Mr Amphlett.
I'll be reporting him to the police and provide my extensive records of conversations to them quoting the same crime reference 6576221/22.
Another crime victim. Why is this crook allow to continue operating with such impunity for so many years?
Another victim - uses hundreds of excuses not to pay: internet down, at a funeral, bad wifi at hotel, incorrect bank details...the list is endless
Hi I left some details of a bank account he uses to the number above. Perhaps the police can look into it and freeze it. I’m sure he uses many though
Has this heinous individual now gone to ground again?
He has been arrested, probably will be bailed today. If anyone isn't receiving updates from Sussex Police, leave your details here and I will forward them to the investigating officer
Could i get the Sussex Police invesigating officers name and a crime number please. I will speak to them also. Thank you
My parents have also been swindled by this guy for a lot of money, it’s currently being logged by the police.
There seem to be a lot of horror stories on here, has anyone had any luck retrieving items?
I hope this man gets brought to justice and that everyone suffered gets compensated.
Any info would be greatly appreciated
Hi -how do you know he's been arrested? You don't state who you are?
How do you know this? Not likely to provide details if you don't state who you are? Are you someone who has had dealings with Jamie Goately/been scammed? Just being cautious!
Make sure you call Sussex Police and report the crime there and not at any other station- 01273475432
Who are you Anonymous? You keep posting comments/follow ups with how everyone who's been affected should act but you don't declare who you are? Nor do you state how you know Jamie/James Goately was arrested? How about updating us all as to who you are then we may become more trusting? Or perhaps, you are just stiring the pot, just a tad???
Hi all.
It is clear that there are many victims here so let's try to ensure that the police can gather as much evidence as possible to bring him to justice.
As was confirmed to me by Sussex Police today, James Charles / Jamie Goatley, or whatever name he told you, has been arrested. I do not know any further details.
While we will likely all incur significant financial loss and a fair amount of stress, I do urge all victims to contact Sussex Police now.
There is a significant investigation ongoing under the name of 'Operation Kettle' Crime ref 47240022497 by Sussex Police.
They can be contacted on 01273 475432
I am yet to be formally interviewed myself so I can't go into my specific details. But I do urge you to call Sussex Police.
I share your angst and distress.
Mr G Bibby
Could not have said better myself. I have asked twice now who this “all knowing” Anonymous but the lack of response is deafening?!
Please call Sussex police on the number above and use the crime ref to pass on your details. They are investigating. Thanks
The above is all correct. Please report to Sussex police.
It’s James Dennis Charles Goatley or Jamie Goatley or a mix of all sorts. Please report to police.
I have a HUGE folder on my computer with a tonne of evidence.
Quite sickening that a fraudster with such long history of crime has been allowed to operate for this long. The fact the olympiamayfair.com website continues to operate is quite telling of how little, if at all, is being done by the authorities to stop and prevent these crimes. Has anyone received any updates from the Police as to the recovery of possessions stolen by James?
I’m definitely being scammed by the same person now calling himself James Dennis Charles and he has taken my jewellery worth over 80 K pounds!
If you have been approached by him or passed any items over to him since he was arrested on 11th Feb, I urge you to call Sussex Police on 01273 475432 quoting crime ref 47240022497 'Operation Kettle' to report his activities.
If he remains active still, he needs to be arrested again.
I am another victim sadly. I have reported the matter to Sussex police today.
I am also a victim. I reported the incident today, my crime reference no is 5604085/24.
They will link this reference number to Operation Kettle’s ref.
I was told the officer in charge of this operation is Rachel Horton, based in Durrington.
It looks like https://olympiamayfair.com/ has been taken offline to help prevent further frauds.
I've also been scammed by James. Have also reported to Fraud squad and Sussex police this afternoon. Feel a total mug.
This man has scammed an old person in Winchelsea, East Sussex and it’s all reported to the police.
Charles is now reported to Hastings East Sussex Police for his scams.
I have also been scammed - I reported it to the Met who tell me he has been arrested and they are awaiting getting him in for questioning. Should I call Sussex to link it ?
Yes for sure report it to Sussex Police
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