From flaunting designer labels and supercars to calling himself the “Kardashian of Cheshire,” Jack Watkin made a name for himself as one of the UK’s self-styled “rich kids of Instagram.”
But behind the glamorous posts and high-end shopping sprees was a carefully spun web of lies — and now, at just 26, he’s facing jail time for defrauding friends, family, and even his own father out of nearly £200,000.
A Lavish Life Funded by Lies
Watkin, a former public school student, used his social media presence to convince people that he was a millionaire businessman.
In reality, he was running a fake luxury handbag business and conning people out of their money with promises of high-end profits from the resale of exclusive Hermès bags.
But there were no bags, no profits, and no business.
Instead, Watkin used the funds to bankroll his extravagant lifestyle.
He lived for weeks at the five-star Dorchester Hotel in London’s Mayfair, racking up a bill of over £136,000.
He also spent more than £22,000 on a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce and nearly £68,000 at Harrods — not to mention the designer wardrobe he kept in a storage unit in Knightsbridge.
Courtroom Confession and a Shocking Twist
Watkin’s fraud trial took a sudden turn when he changed his plea and admitted to six counts of fraud between December 2019 and August 2024.
But the court also heard something far more disturbing: earlier this year, Watkin had already been convicted of several child pornography offenses after police discovered indecent images on his phone — which had been seized during his arrest for the fraud case.
He now awaits sentencing for both the fraud and child abuse image convictions in September.
The judge made it clear that prison is unavoidable, describing the fraud as serious and involving “significant loss” to his victims.
From Jet-Set Life to Criminal Charges
Watkin’s persona had long been cultivated online and on TV.
He appeared in the Channel 4 documentary Rich Kids of Instagram back in 2016 at age 17, where he bragged about his family’s wealth, his £1.7 million fleet of supercars, and a private jet.
He claimed to live in a mansion in Alderley Edge — the wealthy Cheshire village beloved by Premier League footballers — and boasted of spending half a million on a Bulgari watch.
But by 2019, that fantasy lifestyle began to unravel.
After his parents split, Watkin was reportedly cut off by his father, Jason Watkin, a property mogul.
With his financial tap turned off, he resorted to deceit.
How the Luxury Handbag Scam Worked
Prosecutors explained that Watkin built his scam around the exclusive nature of Hermès bags, which often sell for more secondhand than retail.
He told people he had special access to the brand’s limited stock — even claiming he had personal ties with Hermès directors — and promised big returns on investment.
Some believed him. A longtime friend, Hannah Jakes, handed over more than £98,000.
Businesswoman Christine Colbert, who runs a boutique in Prestbury, gave him £43,800.
Watkin even allegedly stole two handbags from her store — one worth £21,000 and another £8,000.
He scammed his own father out of nearly £14,000, and duped businessman James Irlam into handing over £24,500.
Another victim, Harrods barman Andor Farkas, lost £14,000.
In each case, he promised high returns or luxury items that never arrived — only excuses, delays, and silence.
The Social Media Trap
Watkin’s Instagram played a key role in his fraud.
He carefully crafted a lifestyle filled with designer clothes, expensive cars, and first-class indulgence.
Detective Constable Gareth Yates explained that the image helped build trust and attract victims.
Watkin sold the idea that he was someone people wanted to be — or invest in.
One victim, Naheem Akhtar, agreed to send him £840 for a pair of Loro Piana shoes after seeing his posts online.
But, like the others, he received nothing in return — just excuses, including claims that Watkin had been hospitalised.
The Women Who Turned the Tables
In the end, it was two of his victims who brought him down.
When Christine Colbert posted a warning about him on Instagram, Hannah Jakes recognised the name.
The two women joined forces, set up a meeting with Watkin, and contacted police.
Officers arrested him on the spot in Alderley Edge.
During police interviews, Watkin insisted he always intended to repay the money, and blamed financial difficulties caused by the pandemic.
He even claimed some of the victims owed him money — but none of it held up under scrutiny.
From Bankruptcy to Criminal Infamy
Investigators discovered Watkin had been pawning designer items and had already declared bankruptcy a year earlier.
His tale of social media luxury was just smoke and mirrors.
Senior prosecutor Laura Atherton described him as “incredibly charismatic” and able to keep up the fraud over several years — which, she said, takes a uniquely manipulative kind of personality.
A Cautionary Tale in the Age of Image
Jack Watkin is now a convicted fraudster, a convicted sex offender, and an example of how easily people can be drawn into the fantasy world of Instagram glamour.
What began as a polished online persona spiraled into criminal deceit, broken trust, and lives left in financial ruin.
His sentencing later this year will not just bring justice to the victims — it will also mark the final fall of a man who sold a dream and lived a lie.