A FRAUD who stole millions by convincing victims he was a spy will be free soon after a life sentence was quashed.
Robert Hendy-Freegard's victims lived in hiding for years and handed over a total of $2.5 million to him after he convinced them he was an undercover MI5 agent and they were IRA targets.
But the Court of Appeal has now thrown out his convictions for kidnapping, meaning he could be freed by year's end.
A jury had heard he had complete control over his terrified victims' "mind and movements".
But the appeal court ruled that the kidnapping convictions were unsafe, because, though mentally captive, his victims were not physically deprived of their liberty.
Victim Sarah Smith, 37, said: "I am absolutely stunned and devastated.
"I thought justice had been done. Now, my faith in the courts is completely shaken. I am sure he will do it again."
In a 10-year "odyssey of deceit", the car salesman forced victims to hand over money he spent living a James Bond fantasy of luxury cars, holidays and clothes. He bought seven BMWs, an Aston Martin, Rolexes and Savile Row suits.
A FRAUD who stole millions by convincing victims he was a spy will be free soon after a life sentence was quashed. 有無を言わさぬ犠牲者達―彼はスパイであった、もうすぐある生命判決が鎮めた後に自由だろう―から百万ズを盗んだある一つのフラウド