A Shropshire conman who tricked dozens of businesses into handing over cash by telling them he was running a marathon in memory of his dead son has been jailed for two years.

Owen Fox Roswell, also known as Nicholas Slocombe, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court today, where Judge Robin Onions jailed him for 18 months for 25 fraud charges relating to the sponsorship money and an additional six months for three charges of fraud after he ran off from guest houses without paying.

The 28-year-old approached businesses in Ellesmere, Oswestry and Leominster in February and March with the scam, telling them he had a son, or on some occasions, twins, who had died from leukaemia.

In total he gained £1,280 through the scam, the court heard.

• Click on the podcast on the right to hear DCI Alan Edwards of West Mercia Police comment on Roswell’s sentence

Roswell, of Newent Close, Shrewsbury, who had admitted the charges, also asked Judge Onions to take nine further offences of fraud into account, relating to taking money from businesses in Newtown, Powys, Chester and Staffordshire.

Judge Onions told Roswell: “This is a despicable case, where you have preyed on people with this story and they have handed you money out of the goodness of their heart.

“They may now think twice before giving to charity and charities that collect for leukaemia may now be affected by people wary of this kind of crime. You went into small businesses and told them your son had died from an illness which many young people do indeed suffer with.

He added: “This was a sophisticated crime and one you had taken time to concoct.