An alleged internet Romeo accused of conning five women out of money has denied targeting the females on dating websites.

Elvis Fair, of Thurmans Walk, Trimley St Mary, who also denied ever knowing one of the women, claimed he contacted the others for friendship despite being married at the time.

The 52-year-old has pleaded not guilty to five counts of fraud by false representation between 2011 and 2015.

Giving evidence at Ipswich Crown Court he admitted ‘embellishing’ his background by saying he had been in the RAF. However, he denied telling the women he met through Zoosk, Urban Social and PlentyOfFish he was a businessman with access to a helicopter.

While being cross-examined by prosecutor Laura Kenyon, Fair said: “I wasn’t targeting women. I was hoping to have a friendship.

“At the time I was self-centred and selfish-minded.

“Obviously I was lacking confidence. I was lacking intimacy. I was at a weak moment myself.

“You don’t expect to meet people on a dating site necessarily straightaway. You are not aware of anyone who might be interested in you. It doesn’t work that way.

“I think I was just hoping someone might be interested in me from that profile.

“It’s a two-way process. You go online. Someone might be interested in you.

“There’s no guarantee someone might be interested in you.

“It’s not something you can target. People have to be interested in you to make contact at all.”

During the cross examination Fair said he had no idea that a woman he had no recollection of knowing had been putting amounts of between £10 to £40 in his bank account, most of which were withdrawn by him the same day.

It had been alleged the deposits into Fair’s bank account were so he could travel to meet the woman.

During the trial it has been claimed Fair kept money five women gave him for various things including a holiday in Hawaii, a helicopter lesson, repairs to a car, and changing the deeds on a Spanish property.

Fair previously told the court he had formerly lived in Dedham with his wife and three children, and was separated from his wife.

The trial continues.