A DEVASTATED divorcee who was swindled out of more than £200,000 by a serial conman has spoken out in a bid to warn other women to steer clear of his “wicked” ways.

Karen Culverwell said she “loved and trusted” Roy Moyse and had no idea he was stealing most of her divorce settlement from her bank account during their two-year relationship.

At the height of his crime spree, Moyse siphoned off £70,000 in just one week from a reserve bank account unsuspecting Karen had no reason to check.

The 50-year-old mother-of-two only discovered the con when she attempted to buy a new home and was told by her bank that she had no money left.

Moyse, 45, from Poole was jailed for two years earlier this month after admitting defrauding the Royal Bank of Scotland (Natwest) with unauthorised bank transfers.

When she met Moyse in August 2010, Mrs Culverwell had no idea the smooth-talker had already been jailed for duping five previous victims out of their savings.

A year later he moved in with her and pretended to be a successful businessman, leaving the house each morning in a suit, claiming to be going to business meetings. In reality he was an unemployed gambling addict.

Records from bookies Ladbrooks revealed Moyse gambled £146,000 over the counter losing £7,400. He gambled £356,000 over the internet losing £155,000.

Mrs Culverwell said: “He took work calls and I even visited one of the sites his son was working on, it all seemed legitimate. I saw quotes, invoices, and he showed me CVs for potential employees. I had messages on my phone from his so-called boss and he even offered a very good friend of mine a job.

“He proposed to me five times during our two-year relationship. There was absolutely no reason to doubt him.”

After moving in, Moyse persuaded Mrs Culverwell to set up online banking so he could pay rent and bills and he rapidly depleted her savings account without her knowledge.

“I had no reason to check the account. My current account had money going in and out and as far as I was concerned my savings were safe until I’d found a house to buy.”

Mrs Culverwell said she was devastated when she discovered the truth and became a recluse. She finally found the strength to report him to the police.

“You read about this sort of thing happening to other people and your first reaction is to think ‘what a stupid person’ and ‘what a fool to believe all that,’” she said.

“I’ve been left with nothing. He’s taken my livelihood and my daughters’ inheritance. He is the scum of the earth. What he did was wicked and evil.

“He was a calculating, professional conman and I don’t believe I had a chance. He has fooled people cleverer than me and lived in a fantasy life full of compulsive lies.

“I am determined to make sure that no other woman falls into his trap. He has to be stopped once and for all. I found the strength to come forward with the support of my family and friends and I hope other people who may have been affected by him will go to the police.”

Mrs Culverwell fears he will strike again because within a week of his lies emerging he had signed up to the Plenty of Fish dating website preying for his next victim.

Mrs Culverwell is now hoping her bank, Natwest, will repay her the stolen money and is looking at taking action against them for failing to inform her of the irregular transactions.