On your first two points, which are disputable given the lack of any written agreements and the inescapable fact that friends or people who knew somebody by reputation only, informally gave a fellow gambler money to gamble in the hope of making a profit, you might just be able to dispute this in a civil law court with no guarantee of success.  It is not a criminal offence though.

Your point with regard to benefit fraud is probably valid, they'd certainly be interested if it is means tested benefits as cash/savings would preclude him from that which is a criminal offence and they still might be interested even if it is just contributory benefits he's receiving as to receive even that which isn't means tested, he has to be actively seeking employment, I can guarantee you pointing them at this thread will give a bored civil servant hours of fun and perhaps him some discomfort, as would pointing his IVA administrator at this thread.

You might want to look at other threads about this, such as on the betfair poker forum.  At some stage the group of wronged people here will eventually realise they have been silly, it isn't a criminal offence and they will either decide to move on or club together again to have their day in a civil court, that will at least cause him more discomfort if nothing else.  Until then, having a group e-hug isn't an offence either, nor is having a pop at anyone who isn't part of the gang who might pop by to post an opinion not clouded by emotions.

You do not need to be in breach of a written, legally-binding, signed agreement to be prosecuted for obtaining money by deception.

Many of his patent lies are documented here in black & white, spinning his stakers lie after lie despite evidence which has surfaced to the contrary.

Many of these investigations are dependent on number of people affected. If it was just 1 guy conned from 300 quid or whatever, it's a waste of time. It appears there have been 40+ people ripped off in this particular incident alone. Who is to know what else he has been involved in elsewhere, perhaps under different pseudonyms? There is a strong possibility he's ripped off many more than what was initially thought. Quite simply, the more people who complain, the more likely the Police will react.

It's not a criminal offence to ask for money and be given it, but it's a criminal offence to effectively steal that money under false pretenses. By all accounts he has been withdrawing £1k sums very recently, meaning it is very possible the money has not been 'lost' at all.

As I say, I have run this past someone, out of nothing more than interest, since I have met the perpetrator and am disgusted that someone who looks so polished and friendly from the outside for so long could be so heinous. Letting it lie and putting down to experience, effectively letting him off scot-free, when there is a strong possibility he is still in possession of some of the funds, is absolutely the wrong thing to do. Had I been affected, I would certainly NOT be letting it slide and say 'I was daft.'

I ask you once more, are you Blatch? I noticed you ignored that part.

I'm a bit confused as to why people are entering this thread and making judgement based on whether there is a criminal case to answer.

Surely the only person that can answer that question is the investigating officer, any conjecture and "expert opinion" seems to be completely pointless?

Lets just wait until we hear what the police have to say about the matter (if anything) instead of speculating and arguing.

have the police been called?

Sounds worth a shout.

I'm a bit confused as to why people are entering this thread and making judgement based on whether there is a criminal case to answer.

Surely the only person that can answer that question is the investigating officer, any conjecture and "expert opinion" seems to be completely pointless?

Lets just wait until we hear what the police have to say about the matter (if anything) instead of speculating and arguing.

I've already run this past a mate who is a lawyer and he have said it is 100% worth following up on through the proper channels.

Check it out, you will find there is at the very least an investigation to be had.

I just hope those affected have the bit between their teeth to do so.

Have the police been informed?

"Officer, I've been the victim of theft, fraud and deception, somebody has stolen my money"

"Deary me sir, how did that happen"

"Well there's this group of us, a few dozen and we all like a bit of a gamble and some of us knew this bloke who also liked a gamble but worse than us, he was a mad gambler and chucked fifty pound notes around, buying everyone drinks and lapdances but he did also seem to be a bit skint at times like he couldn't handle his money, wanted staking for $5 games after winning £30k and often borrowed money off others in the group making excuses like nigerians had emptied his bank account.  He said he was a top pro punter but he wore the same shirt for two years, drove a cheap old fiesta, had an IVA for not being able to pay his credit cards and also signed on the dole for his giro and rent money.  Anyway, we all got together and gave him about £80k as he said he would gamble it for us and turn it into £160k but do you know what, he didn't!  We didn't sign anything like specific terms or anything, we just thought he could double our money gambling because he said so, but we reckon he lost some and spent some and might even still have some - can you arrest him please officer?"

"No sir, have you considered calling GamCare or the samaritans for advice, you might even want to club together some more and take him to a civil law court as this is clearly a civil matter between friends and people who don't really know each other who have now fell out, but that will cost you many thousands in solictors fees and you will lose annonymity doing that and you will be laughed at and pointed at in the civil law court by anyone watching as you're gradually picked to pieces by someone pointing out all the facts you knew collectively but chose to ignore behind the prospect of making some quick money by gambling."

"Bugger"

If money was obtained via deception, as appears to be the situation, there is a case to answer.

If he is 'losing' the money to himself, portraying the money has gone whilst it is sitting in another account of his, as appears to be the situation, there is a case to answer.

If he has been committing benefit fraud, as appears to be the situation, there is a case to answer.

Whether or not anything tangible comes of each case, I do not know. But if you are suggesting his investors should learn their lesson and move on while Blatch is not called to account on each case, I would like to know if you are actually Blatch under yet another login.

I do find it pretty amazing reading all these stories about what a bad bloke Blatch always has been.

Where were you all when he was the hero of the forum?

Must say it all smacks of after timing.

As has been said time and again, blonde is a ridiculously 'cliquey' forum - standing up against well respected members rightly or wrongly is a futile thing to do.

So it seems with arbboy's banning. Sad.

Most forums are the same, though. Regulars and those known either off the forum or those who hold a 'rep' are always given more protection.

lol @ these 2 ignorant posts from 2 new people to the forum

arbboys ban was because of the way in which he posted - how he said not what he said i guess

please dont make yourseleves look rediculous by talking abou things of which you know nothing about

hindsight is 20/20 - most of the people here are telling stories after the event. I was one of the people who blatch freeroled on - given what i knew of his previous staking (and these are with friends) i had no reason to doubt him

ask yourself the following question, has anyone ever owed you money? - Do you go round blabbing abou tit and talking abou tthem behind their backs?

You might want to have a think about the context of my comments before taking offence.

It's the same in any community, internet or real life. People stick by those they 'know', regulars or those with the rep. Newbies need to earn that respect, like now, for example - you having a pop as I've only just registered but have the audacity to speak out.  

I was not having a go at anyone on the forum or, indeed, the actual forum itself and it's user base. I was simply making an observation on communities in general.

I do find it pretty amazing reading all these stories about what a bad bloke Blatch always has been.

Where were you all when he was the hero of the forum?

Must say it all smacks of after timing.

As has been said time and again, blonde is a ridiculously 'cliquey' forum - standing up against well respected members rightly or wrongly is a futile thing to do.

So it seems with arbboy's banning. Sad.

Most forums are the same, though. Regulars and those known either off the forum or those who hold a 'rep' are always given more protection.

I do find it pretty amazing reading all these stories about what a bad bloke Blatch always has been.

Where were you all when he was the hero of the forum?

Must say it all smacks of after timing.

I was just about to say the same. It seems people were onto him a long time ago, or at least had their suspicions, yet said nothing to anyone.

Which leads you to believe that this whole affair could have been avoided far earlier if his 'mates' had the balls to speak up when their suspicions first arose.

I'm not blaming his friends here, but with something as serious as this, perhaps someone could have done more to expose him earlier.