VICTIMS of timeshare conman Francis 'Frank' Madden labelled him "arrogant" as he was jailed last week.

The defendant, 61, subjected victims to high-pressure sales techniques to get them to part with cash for "virtually worthless" accommodation, which they often found themselves unable to book.

Members of staff working for the fraudster each cold-called 200 members of the public every day. Victims were invited to presentation for holiday club companies Central Marketing Ltd, Glenleigh Ltd and Reco Corp Ltd.

Those who attended were told beforehand that presentations would last around two hours.

However, in fact the presentations often took between four and five hours, and in some cases, loud music would be played throughout.

"Exhausted" victims would then be escorted to ATMs.

Although those who signed up to the schemes were told they could later cancel their contracts during a ‘cooling off’ period, when they attempted to do so, they were told it was not possible.

Madden, of Wellington Road in Bournemouth, was sentenced to 40 months in prison following a sentencing hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court. He admitted three counts of fraudulent trading, as well as one of breaching a suspended sentence order made for similar offences in 2012.

A married couple from Swindon were among the victims.

They told the Daily Echo: "It's just the sheer arrogance of it.

"Despite the suspended sentence, he just kept going."

The couple praised Trading Standards officers for their investigation into Madden, and said: "We, like the other victims, were caught in his spider's web of lies and deceit.

"We've felt very foolish."

Madden's employee Claire Garland, 29 and of Wood View in Wimborne, admitted two counts of failing to provide cancellation rights and was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge.

Keith Furneval, 47, of Grosvenor Gardens in Boscombe, who was charged with fraudulent trading, and Madden's wife Jean Furneval, 60, of Wellington Road, Bournemouth, who was charged with money laundering, were formally found not guilty after prosecutors offered no evidence.