A confidence trickster has been found guilty of pretending to be a mortgage advisor in order to con three nurses out of more than £100,000.

Johnson Umax was convicted of three counts of fraud by false representation on Monday, April 15 following a two-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Each of the victims had loaned him money, believing he would use it to help them get a mortgage.

He started a relationship with the first victim in February 2013 after they met through an online dating site.

When she told him she wanted to buy a house, he claimed he had a mortgage company and she agreed to give him a deposit of more than £30,000.

He met the second victim in November 2013 and they later began a relationship.

When she told him she wanted to buy a property, he claimed he would buy a house for her and sell it at auction for a profit - then use the money to buy another house for them to live in together.

Umax promised to repay the £40,054 he had taken from her but never did.

Before the victim discovered his deception, she had recommended him to one of her colleagues, who was also looking to get a mortgage.

He took more than £40,000 from her between July 2014 and August 2015 but never repaid it - and lied that he had bought a property on her behalf.

During police interview, the 32-year-old from Chelmsford claimed he had not obtained the money fraudulently.

He claimed he had been in relationships with the three victims and they had offered to help him financially because he was in debt. But the court heard this was not true and that he was never in a relationship with the third victim.

Umax, of Fitzwalter Place, Chelmsford, denied three counts of fraud by false representation but was found guilty by a jury.

He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on Friday, May 24.

Speaking after the verdict, investigating officer Detective Constable Chris Sedgwick, of Braintree CID, said: “Johnson Umax is a confidence trickster and fraudster who manipulated his victims with promises and lies.

“Hopefully this conviction will show him and others that if you commit crime we will continue to pursue you to get justice for the victims.”