Luxury Lifestyle Built On Lies
A man who called himself the “Kardashian of Cheshire” has been jailed for six years after scamming victims out of nearly £200,000 through a fake designer handbag investment scheme. Jack Watkin, 26, from Alderley Edge, lived a life of luxury funded by fraud, boasting of success while leaving those who trusted him out of pocket and humiliated.
Watkin promised investors huge profits through deals for rare Hermès handbags, claiming he had exclusive access to luxury stock and high-end buyers. In reality, the handbags never existed. The court heard he used the money to fund an extravagant lifestyle filled with supercars, expensive hotels and luxury holidays — all carefully displayed on social media to maintain the illusion of success.
A Web Of Deceit
Among Watkin’s victims were close friends, business owners and even members of his own family. One high-end boutique owner said she lost tens of thousands after believing his claims of exclusive access to designer goods. She told police she had initially been sceptical but was persuaded by his charm and apparent wealth.
When the promised returns failed to arrive, victims realised the extent of the deception. Some later worked together with detectives to expose him, organising a meeting that ultimately led to his arrest. By that point, Watkin had spent most of the stolen money on himself.
Judge Condemns ‘Calculated Manipulation’
At Chester Crown Court, Judge Simon Berkson told Watkin he had used an image of glamour to disguise greed. “You created a persona of wealth and success to exploit others for personal gain,” he said. “This was calculated manipulation for your own vanity and pleasure.”
The judge said Watkin’s betrayal was particularly cruel because he targeted people who trusted him and reinvested their money based on false promises. Victims described the financial and emotional toll as devastating, saying they felt “foolish and violated.”
Further Crimes Revealed
The investigation also uncovered that Watkin had committed unrelated but serious offences involving indecent images of children. Officers discovered more than 600 illegal files on his devices, including the most serious category of material. He was found to have continued downloading such images while already under investigation.
The court heard that these offences revealed a darker side to Watkin’s carefully curated public persona — a man who projected wealth and confidence but hid a trail of deceit and exploitation behind the scenes.
Sentence And Aftermath
Watkin was sentenced to six years in prison for the handbag fraud, alongside additional time for the indecent image offences. Police said his crimes were “a shocking example of how easily image and charm can be weaponised for greed.”
For his victims, the sentence offered some relief but little comfort. One said she still struggles to trust others after the betrayal. “He fooled everyone,” she said. “He lived like a celebrity while ruining people’s lives.”
The so-called “Kardashian of Cheshire” now faces years behind bars — stripped of the luxury, the followers, and the fantasy world that once kept his lies alive.
