A "confident fraudster" who used his "superficial charm" has been jailed after stealing more than £800,000 from a range of victims, including a former football chief.
Neil Stafford, 60, was sentenced to nine years at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, March 2. He was also disqualified from being a director for 15 years.
A unanimous jury found Stafford, of Broad Lane, Doncaster, guilty of seven counts of fraud, spanning more than three years between June 2011 and December 2014, following an eight-week trial.
During his fraudulent activities, Stafford was the director of healthcare, technology and industrial companies.
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The crooked businessman conned his victims into believing he was a millionaire university professor with degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge University.
He also claimed his company was a leading supplier of pharmaceuticals and medical products, owning hospitals and primary care centres.
Among the victims named in court documents, which totalled seven, was Darryl Eales, who was chairman at Oxford United until 2018, overseeing two trips to Wembley and promotion to League One.
Stafford offered multiple victims the opportunity to invest in his so-called "Friends and Family" scheme, which allowed people to invest in his companies.
Neil Stafford was described as a 'confident fraudster;' who used his 'superficial charm' after stealing more than £800,000 from a range of victims, including a former football chief
|THAMES VALLEY POLICE
Such investments included shares in the company, medical deals, and oil and gas deals.
The total invested sum reached an astonishing £882,000.
Rather than investing the money as promised, Stafford instead used the fortune to fund his "extravagant" lifestyle.
James Norman, prosecuting, said: "He is a confidant fraudster. He used his superficial charm to tell lies for people to pay him large sums of money over a period of time.
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Neil Stafford, 60, was sentenced to nine years at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, March 2. He was also disqualified from being a director for 15 years
| PA"He funded a very expensive lifestyle which he couldn't do without resorting to theft."
A second victim, Richard Tozer, read his victim statement to the court: "Neil Stafford groomed me to gain my trust. He lied and manipulated me.
"He presented himself as successful. He showed zero compassion or interest.
"He pretended to be in hospital. There is no level he would not go to to protect himself. This caused a great deal of stress and pressure.
"He posted a picture of himself in Oxford on the same day he told me he was in the Middle East. He deserves to be incarcerated for the maximum period. He will remain a threat to innocent people."
The conman was arrested on June 5, 2015, charged on February 3, 2023, and convicted on November 19, 2025.
Judge Hassan Khan said: "You are a confidant fraudster. The victims were defrauded over months and years.
"You presented yourself as a successful businessman. You used your charm to induce seven victims on the wholly false premise the money would be invested.
"In every case, the funds were used for your extravagant lifestyle. The impacts on each victim has been profound.
"You have continued to deflect responsibility for your actions."
Detective Constable Neil Rudge of the Economic Crime Unit and South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, stated: "Neil Stafford exploited the trust placed in him by the victims who believed their money was being responsibly invested, all for his own personal gain.
"I hope the outcome of Stafford’s sentencing reassures that we take fraud extremely seriously. We remain committed to pursuing those who target trusting members of our community and bring them to justice.
"I’d like to remind everyone that fraud can happen to anyone. If you’re affected, please report it to Report Fraud."
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