TV crimewatch appeal in hunt for Shropshire conman

Detectives leading a hunt for a conman from Shropshire who skipped bail and disappeared days before being sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail for a £237,000 scam will make an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch tonight.

Robert Taylor-Barefoot, from Brockhurst, Shifnal, spent thousands of pounds of investors' savings on a jet-set lifestyle.

City of London police believe the 33-year-old has fled the country and have not been able to trace him since he was sentenced at the start of September.

The big-spending broker set up a company, BBA Capita Capital Management LLP, and persuaded seven investors to hand over money he said would be invested in a hedge fund called QFX Absolute Return Fund.

But at his trial at the Old Bailey, where he was convicted by a jury of nine counts of fraud, the court heard he instead blew the cash on a 'champagne' lifestyle.

The court heard that Taylor-Barefoot, who has 11 previous convictions for dishonesty, had splashed out £9,500 of company funds on his wedding and a further £15,000 at West End nightspot Mahiki – the fashionable haunt frequented by celebrities and royalty, including Prince Harry.

It emerged during the trial at the Old Bailey that his travel documents were not seized as part of bail conditions.

Taylor-Barefoot's description has since been distributed to all major British ports and airports in a desperate bid to find him and bring him to justice.

A spokesman for the City of London Police said: "Police have also made inquiries with his estranged wife Serena, who now lives in Ludlow, and his parents, also from Shropshire, but they insisted to officers they had not seen him.

The police spokesman added: "Barefoot was found guilty by a jury in his absence of seven counts of fraud by false representation, one count of conspiracy to defraud and a further count of contravening a Directors Disqualification Order."

He said: "Anyone with information on Taylor-Barefoot's whereabouts is urged to contact City of London Police on (020) 7601 2222 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Taylor-Barefoot's business partner Jeremy Wright, 41, from Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire, did attend court and was jailed for four years.