A "WEALTHY" conman who drove a Rolls Royce and carried a silver-topped cane was found dead in one of Blackpool's top hotels with just tuppence in his pocket.

Christopher John Agar, 56, who styled himself an investment consultant, went on the run from his Bridlington home two years ago with £100,000 of clients' money.

He toured Europe attempting to evade the fraud squad and police finally caught up with him - too late - on Monday when he was discovered dead on the floor of an Imperial Hotel bedroom. Suicide or natural causes were suspected. Det Sgt Adam Harland, of the North Yorkshire Fraud Squad, said: "He was a real Jekyll and Hyde. He had the air of a bank manager but it was all a facade."

In fact, John Agar had no financial qualifications when he set up as an insurance broker and pension and investment consultant in York.

At times he modelled himself on PG Wodehouse, with pin-stripes, cane and bowler hat, or on a retired Parachute Regiment officer, even wearing the regimental tie. In fact he was a former clerk who lived in a semi and had only ever been a private in the Territorial Army.

Three years ago the police began investigating after it was alleged he stole a client's £65,000 injury compensation award.

Other complaints followed. At the time of death, he had six county court judgments against him, was a convicted drink driver and was also being investigated for illegally claiming invalidity benefit.

It is thought that he came to the Fylde coast last week to visit his family, who are believed to have fled Bridlington to evade his angry clients.

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