CONMAN Adam Lloyd-Harris has been arrested 150 miles from Sunderland after a nationwide hunt.
Today, the woman who fell for his charms as he emptied her bank account said: “Thank God this is finally over”.
Lloyd-Harris evaded capture twice after telling police he was seriously ill.
The 32-year-old was waiting to be sentenced after admitting defrauding and stealing £20,000 from his victim, Wearsider Janine Munroe.
Miss Munroe, 35, fell for Lloyd-Harris who wooed her with gifts, holidays and flowers he paid for by stealing from her savings account.
But, even though he admitted the offence, and there were three warrants out for his arrest, Lloyd-Harris managed to avoid capture – until yesterday.
Police confirmed the Walter Mitty-style conman – who claimed he was a top music executive working for Sony – had been arrested in Nottingham.
The Echo understands he has now been brought back to the North East, where he today remains in custody.
Lloyd-Harris charmed his way into Miss Munroe’s life, even paying for a hypnotist to reassure her when she became suspicious about his intentions.
It was only when the trainee mental-health nurse discovered hidden bank statements she realised her Mr Charming was, in fact, conning her out of tens of thousands of pounds in savings.
Speaking after hearing of his arrest, Miss Munroe, of Ryhope, Sunderland, said: “I feel on top of the world that he’s finally been caught.
“I finally feel like this is all going to be over and I move on from the last four years. At least, for the time being, he is somewhere where he can’t do any more harm.”
Miss Munroe first met Lloyd- Harris in February 2009 when they were introduced at a house warming party. He soon moved into her terraced home.
Telling her he was a top music producer, he would get Miss Munroe to run him to the train station where he would pretend to go to meetings in London. The trainee nurse later discovered he would just sit in local libraries all day.
He would steal her post to stop her seeing bank statements, but Miss Munroe later found out Lloyd-Harris had taken thousands from her ISA account, as well as all her university savings.
A spokeswoman for Nottingham Police said: “Yesterday morning we arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with a ‘fail to appear in court’ issue.”
l Lloyd-Harris, formerly of Peterlee, is expected to appear at Newcastle Crown Court next week.
Twitter:@craigjourno
