The manhunt for a lookalike of EastEnders loser Ian Beale who conned three lonely grandmothers into forking out £400,000 is still ongoing nearly seven years later. 

'Casanova Conman' John Eric Wells has been on the run since September 2019 when police first launched an appeal for the fraudster.

Despite resembling one of British TV's most iconic characters, played by Adam Woodyatt on EastEnders for decades, Wells has managed to evade the law. 

The conman, understood to be in his 60s, is wanted in connection with three high value romance frauds.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police today confirmed Wells, who is also believed to go by the names Howard Walmsley and Howard Hemmings, was still wanted.

They said: 'Officers are still appealing for information about the whereabouts of wanted man John Eric Wells.' 

The fraudster - from Doncaster, South Yorkshire - is alleged to have fleeced his three elderly victims out of their life savings by sweeping them off their feet and going on a spending spree with their money.

The offences are reported to have taken place from September 2014 onwards, with his victims living in Doncaster, Sussex and London.  

Hazel Wilkins was left in a mountain of debt after she began a relationship with Wells in 2014 having met him online. 

He starting asking her for money and later took out loans in her name before fleeing. 

Wells promised her he would buy her and her two daughters homes - only to back out at the last minute, leaving one of them homeless shortly after she gave birth.

Ms Wilkins sold her own house to buy a new home where her daughter and grandchild could live with her. 

She previously told how she has to pay back £17,000 in loans he took out in her name since he disappeared, which has cut her pension in half. 

Wells also 'cancelled their wedding plans five times', told her he 'owned dozens of hotels around the world' and claimed he had cancer, according to the grandmother.

But she believes whenever he went 'overseas' he was actually back in his hometown of Doncaster.

Ms Wilkins previously said she was in touch with another woman who told her Wells carried out an 'identical scam' on her. 

The conman was previously jailed for three years after faking an £8.9million lottery win. 

He later claimed the scam was an attempt to save his marriage.

Wells conned banks, a solicitor, an architect, a car firm and two women friends out of £53,000 in total.  

EastEnders writer Tony Jordan turned the plot into the film Can't Buy Me Love, which starred Martin Kemp. 

Judge Jane Shipley, who jailed him at Sheffield Crown Court in 2001, told Wells he lived in a 'fantasy world'.

She said: 'You wanted to aspire to the high life and appear successful, but you seem to lack what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.' 

In 2024, a spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: 'Police would like to hear from anyone who has seen or spoken to Wells recently, or has information which may help officers with their enquiries.

'It is possible Wells is currently living outside the UK. If you see him, or you have any information which may help, please call South Yorkshire Police on 101.'