AN ONLINE dating fraudster, who wrecked the lives of vulnerable women by conning them out of hundreds of thousands of pounds, has been ordered to pay compensation to his victims.

Gambling addict Tahmoor Khan, 32, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years last October. He was told by Judge Neil Davey QC that his offending was underpinned by “sheer wickedness,” and he had taken advantage of the women's professional and social vulnerability.

Khan, of Bude Road, West Bowling, Bradford, who had amassed £80,000 gambling debts at casinos, posed as a wealthy businessman to take advantage of two women he contacted through a dating website.

He told one victim he was the owner of a car hire business, had a £2 million fortune and owned a Bentley.

Khan was jailed after admitting two charges of fraud by false representation.

But Judge Davey ordered him to pay compensation to five women, during a proceeds of crime hearing at Bradford Crown Court.

Prosecutor Simon Waley said it had been agreed by the prosecution and defence that Khan had benefited by £993,177, but the amount he had available was £9,000.

A schedule showed that Khan's only assets were three cars, two personalised number plates and a small amount of money in a bank account.

Judge Davey made a compensation order in the sum of £9,000, to be paid to five women named in the original indictment. The compensation must be paid within three months, with five months imprisonment in default.

Khan told one woman he intended to find a wife. He falsely told her he had cash flow problems with his business and asked her for money to help him, and persuaded her to pay £50,000 to buy a Land Rover.

He told a second woman he was a wealthy man “with a few million" in his bank accounts. He told her his assets were frozen and she agreed to lend him money to help with his business, after he promised to pay her back.

Judge Davey told Khan he had preyed on his victims’ vulnerability, and their cultural background meant they could not tell others what was happening for fear of bringing shame on themselves and their families.

He said there had been serious detrimental effects on both victims.

One woman said she had become depressed and unable to eat, falling from a dress size ten to size six and had suicidal thoughts.

The second woman had made two suicide attempts.

Judge Davey told Khan he had looked for vulnerable victims and had found them on a website where women were looking for love and marriage.