Conman claimed £12,000 after pretending his family died in Grenfell Tower blaze

A conman has been warned he faces jail after pretending that his family died in the Grenfell Tower fire so he could pocket over £12,000 from a fund for victims of the tragic blaze.

An Nhu Nguyen, 52, was even pictured meeting Prince Charles when the royal visited a centre set up in the wake of the tragedy, which killed more than 80 people.

Nguyen was given around £12,500 from both charities and Kensington and Chelsea Council after telling them his wife and son had died when fire tore through the 24-storey west London block in June .

But after being given a hotel room and clothing, his malicious fakery was discovery when he gave several different numbers – with one being where a real victim lived and the others not even existing.

Judge Philip Bartle said: ‘The background to this case is one which has received national, if not international, news coverage. Because on June 14 a fire broke out in Grenfell Tower and a very large number of people died in that fire.

‘It has received enormous coverage, there is an inquiry and the ramifications for those people who are genuinely affected by this awful tragedy are very considerable indeed.

‘This defendant has engaged in what the court can only describe as, if he pleads guilty, a despicable offence – namely claiming that he and his family lived in Grenfell Tower and that his wife and son died in it. As a result of which he received goods or money to the value of £12,500.’

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Nguyen, who was born in Vietnam, has lived in the UK since the 1980s and has 28 previous convictions for 56 offences including theft, dishonesty, grievous bodily harm, and arson.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay had previously explained how Nguyen previously attended a help centre at Westway Sports Centre to give his name, date of birth, and confirm that he lived at flat 17.

‘He said he lost his wife, child and all his worldly possessions – he was given £100 cash and signed for it on that basis’, Polnay explained.

‘He attended the following day and was given £260, then given accommodation at Holiday Inn Express, the current bill just under £2,000.

‘On 21 June he applied for £5,000 and gave his address as flat 18 Grenfell Tower, but there is no flat 17 or 18. He then gave another address of another flat, there are other people who live in that flat who have confirmed that.

‘Police officers were assigned because he was treated as a victim and when questioned in detail this fraud unravelled.’