A former millionaire businessman who conned two woman out of almost £3,600 after meeting one of them through a lonely hearts advert has been jailed for nine months.

Father-of-four Michael Prime, 45, booked himself and air hostess Elaine Fuller into a London hotel for a two-night stay but then paid the £1,464 bill on her credit card.

She "kicked him out" after their three-month relationship ended and found a scrunched bank statement showing the hotel bill including room service.

Two months later the former printing firm boss set up home with estate agent Michelle Gregory, 46, after meeting her when she showed him and Miss Fuller around properties.

Lewes Crown Court heard how he then used 46-year-old Miss Gregory's credit card to pay off a £1,935 garage repair bill and a £200 debt at a clothing store.

Prosecuting, Marcus Fletcher told the court: "Miss Fuller placed a lonely hearts advert in the national press in order to meet a male partner.

"That soon happened and when she received a reply from the defendant they started dating one another.

The relationship blossomed and at first all seemed well.

"However, during the course of the relationship which was not long-lived, he misled her about his financial circumstances.

"She seemed to be paying for a number of items and he constantly said he was waiting for his bank cards to be replaced and so on.

"He stayed with her and she began to become suspicious of him. He suggested that they go to London as he had a business trip to attend to.

"She went with him and stayed at the Stafford Hotel in St James Place for two nights before checking out.

She believed he had paid for it all on his business card.

"In fact he had managed to find her credit card in her holdall and and charged the hotel bill to her card.

"The relationship deteriorated and she kicked him out, as she put it."

In interview Prime accused both women of colluding in a "Let's get Mike" campaign and boasted of running a business with a £20 million-a-year turnover.

He told police: "I'm not a conman. I'm a tad strapped but not strapped enough to steal from girlfriends."

Prime, now a sales director, of Lingfield, Surrey, admitted obtaining services by deception and fraud and has a previous conviction for obtaining property by deception.

Jai Patel, defending, told the court: "He is remorseful and ashamed at his actions against these two ladies who showed him kindness and were willing to allow him to live at their homes."

Afterwards, Miss Gregory said: "When I met him he was charming, fun and treated me nicely - albeit on my money.

I felt so sick and betrayed when I found out what he had done.

"He's very cunning and he got what he deserved."