Both Joanne and Helen said they were unhappy with how the police dealt with their cases.

Joanne said she had not had a positive experience with Gwent Police and had experienced poor communication from the force.

She believed her case was not always taken seriously because it was seen as a romance fraud.

Gwent Police said Joanne gave them her initial account on 9 July 2023 and David Griffiths gave two voluntary interviews on 18 December 2024 and 6 January 2025.

“For a period during the investigation into David Griffiths, there was lapse in communication with one of the victims and a written apology was issued,” a spokeswoman said.

It added it investigated all reports of fraud, including romance fraud, thoroughly and hoped the successful conviction of Griffiths demonstrated that “anyone coming forward to report will be taken seriously”.

Helen said she faced hours of questioning after Griffiths’ lies were exposed, something she found an ordeal.

She also said she had to facilitate the handing over of information between forces.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police, which dealt with Helen’s case before it was handed onto Gwent Police, said: “We’re sorry for any additional frustration and distress caused during the lengthy investigation. We are always trying to improve the service we offer to people who are targeted by these heartless fraudsters.”

Both women said people had asked them how they didn’t know they were being lied to – but they refuse to feel shame over Griffiths’ crimes.

“You feel ashamed in the beginning but I don’t feel ashamed anymore,” said Joanne.

“He is the perpetrator… he infiltrated my life and my family and my finances. He should be the one that should feel the shame, not me.”