EastEnders fans won’t stop talking about this crazy conman who looks just like Ian Beale. John Eric Wells fooled three older women out of hundreds of thousands and disappeared for years. He kept switching names, leaving lives in ruins, and piling up debts. Police are hunting him, and they are hoping someone will finally give him up and bring some justice. Keep scrolling to learn more.
Police Hunt EastEnders Star Ian Beale’s Lookalike
Police first put out an appeal for John Eric Wells in September 2019. However, despite this, he managed to be on the run for nearly seven years. Wells is believed to be in his 60’s. And he likely resembles the soap’s Ian Beale. And because of this, he has earned a nickname, ‘Casanova Conman.’
He has also changed his name to Howard Walmsley and Howard Hemmings. This kept police on their toes as he moved around the country. The offence took place in September 2014, when Wells began to target three lonely older women across the UK.
First, he charmed them online and gained their trust. And later, he convinced them to hand over their life savings. One of the victims, Hazel Wilkins, said how he tricked her, took loans in her name and then he suddenly left her with the debt.
South Yorkshire Police have recently made an appeal for the whereabouts of Wells. According to officers, he might now be living abroad. Despite being on the run for years, the authorities want to trace him and hold him accountable.
Well’s Past Crimes And Court History
In 2001, he was jailed for three years for faking an £8.9 million lottery win. It was a scheme that he claimed was meant to save his marriage.
His past frauds also involved banks, a solicitor, an architect, a car firm and two women friends, totalling £53,000. The case even inspired the film Can’t Buy Me Love, written by EastEnders writer Tony Jordan and starring Martin Kemp.
Judge Jane Shipley said he had built a fantasy around himself. She said he wanted the rewards without doing the work. However, it caught up with him. Police are asking anyone who has seen Wells to call 101. For more EastEnders spoilers and updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily.