A CONMAN who scammed Love Island contestant Georgia Steel and Thierry Henry’s ex-wife is back behind bars after being caught in the USA.Medi Abalimba, 35, became known as “The Football Fraudster” after targeting high-profile victims while posing as a Premier League player.SWNSMedi Abalimba, 35, is back behind bars after being caught in the USA[/caption]Thierry Henry’s ex-wife Claire was one of his victimsGoff - check copyright holderAbalimba blames a football career which never made it off the ground for his deceptionsThe former Liverpool and Man City trialist swindled thousands by tricking women so he could fund a champagne lifestyle of luxury hotels, helicopter trips and travelling the globe.
He became a worldwide name last year after a Netflix documentary in which the Arsenal striker’s former wife Claire Merry and ITV reality show star Steel revealed how they had been duped.Abalimba was convicted of a string of fraud offences and was jailed for four years and two months following his most recent conviction in early 2023.However he breached the conditions of his licence by fleeing the UK sparking an international manhunt.
Derbyshire Constabulary worked alongside forces around the world including Homeland Security in the USA in a bid to track down the fraudster.PC Sarah Baker, who works in the force’s International Liaison Office, discovered he had changed his name to Michi Jordan and was travelling on a new passport.Abalimba, previously of Derby, was arrested in t.