A MARRIED couple who conned a farmer out of £1m after suggesting they were connected to Irish terrorists were jailed today, police said.

A judge heard how travellers Dennis McGinley, 30, and Bianca McGinley, 24, defrauded terrified victims in North Yorkshire, Staffordshire and the Avon & Somerset area, netting £1.9m over three years.

The biggest loser was an unnamed farmer from the outskirts of York who was conned out of £1m, some of which went to buy luxury cars including a Lamborghini.

North Yorkshire Police said the victims were involved in business deals with travellers and Dennis McGinley then came along making demands, purporting to represent interests associated with a three-lettered organisation from Northern Ireland.

Full story in tomorrow's Northern Echo