MILEY BYRNE FROM BRAINTREE CAUGHT IN LONDON HOTEL SCAM AFTER POSE AS BORIS JOHNSON'S BODYGUARD

In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the local community and highlighted a pattern of deception, Miley Byrne, a 28-year-old resident of Braintree, was involved in a highly manipulative scheme that culminated in his imprisonment. The incident began in July 2016 when Byrne, under the false alias Adam Wyles, engaged in a prolonged online correspondence with Laura Gee, a talented 15-year-old harpist. Byrne expressed a keen interest in her musical talents and claimed he could arrange for her to perform at a prestigious event in London, specifically for Members of Parliament, scheduled for December 2014.

Throughout their communication, Byrne went to great lengths to establish trust. He fabricated a convincing persona, even pretending to be Boris Johnson’s bodyguard, in an effort to gain the confidence of Laura and her mother, Dawn, who was 50 years old. Byrne assured them that he would handle all travel and accommodation arrangements, and he planned to meet them in Derby before escorting them to a luxurious hotel in London for the Christmas concert, where Laura was expected to perform for distinguished guests.

However, as the day of travel approached, Laura and her mother grew increasingly suspicious. Just as they were about to board a train from Derby to London, Laura received an email from Byrne. The message, which was sent from an email account bearing his real name, raised red flags because it contradicted his earlier communications from the alias Adam Wyles. This inconsistency prompted Laura and Dawn to reconsider their plans, and they decided not to proceed with the journey.

Later investigations revealed that Byrne was not the innocent figure he pretended to be. It emerged that he was a serial fantasist with a troubling criminal history. Authorities uncovered that Byrne had previously been convicted for impersonating a police officer and for offering a hotel receptionist money in exchange for removing her underwear. His criminal record also included claims of posing as a police officer on multiple occasions, including an incident where he falsely claimed to be guarding the daughter of the US Ambassador.

In one of his most notorious episodes, Byrne, dressed in police uniform and armed with handcuffs, entered a Travelodge in Essex and carried out a six-hour fantasy where he handcuffed a guest inside an elevator. He also attempted to bribe a hotel receptionist to remove her underwear, demonstrating a pattern of manipulative and dangerous behavior.

Most recently, Byrne was convicted of stealing over £5,000 from his employers while working as a bookkeeper for Chelmsford-based Ancient Purety nutritional specialists. Between July 1 and August 15 of the previous year, he transferred a total of 11 sums to an account under the alias Adam Wild, a name he used deliberately to conceal his true identity and criminal history.

On Monday, Byrne was sentenced to 16 months in prison at Chelmsford Crown Court. The court was informed of his extensive criminal background, which included previous convictions for impersonating police officers and other false representations. Recorder Maryam Syed emphasized the aggravating factors, noting Byrne’s persistent pattern of deception over the past seven years, despite serving short sentences for earlier offenses. She highlighted that Byrne’s actions were not impulsive but deliberate and recurrent, reflecting a troubling disregard for the law and the safety of others.

In her sentencing remarks, Recorder Syed acknowledged the complex and troubling nature of Byrne’s criminal behavior, stating, “I accept there may have been a Walter Mitty aspect to past offences but this was intentional and persistent.” Byrne’s criminal conduct, characterized by deception, manipulation, and theft, has now resulted in his incarceration, bringing an end to his series of fraudulent activities.