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Former Wales scrum half Gareth Cooper was defrauded out of over a £1million by his wife and his friend.

Cooper, 40, was forced to move back in with his parents in Bridgend after he found out the businesses his then-wife Debra Leyshon, friend and business partner Simon Thomas ran on his behalf had made him bankrupt.

Cooper said in a statement read out in Cardiff Crown Court: "I was deceived and manipulated by the person I trusted the most – my wife and the mother of my children,” he said in a victim personal statement read out at Cardiff Crown Court.

“This has had a profound and devastating effect on both me and my family.

“I was happily married with three children, enjoying a career playing a sport I excelled in for many years.”

(Image: Getty Images Sport)

The ex-British and Irish Lions ace believed a freight and gym businesses that he had set-up, but didn't deal with the day-to-day running of, were "thriving".

But they were not, as prosecutor Roger Griffiths explained: "The opposite was true. The businesses were in financial trouble. Dishonest methods were used to keep them going.”

To keep the companies afloat, Leyshon and Thomas took out some short-term loans and some large loans behind his back.

In 2016, Cooper found out his wife had taken out loans and mortgages without him knowing - with their family house re-mortgaged, along with four other properties, which had been transferred into their joint name.

Mr Griffiths said: “He knew nothing about this. He took no part in the application process at all.”

In February 2017, he was made bankrupt and ordered to court - a month later it was agreed he had been the victim of fraud before starting a "lengthy" police investigation.

(Image: PA)

As legal costs began to rack up, he moved back into his mother and father's house and need to borrow more than £120,000 for fees - which they took out of their pensions.

Cooper said: “That resulted in me moving back in with my parents. I have had to rely on the financial support of my parents to pay legal bills.”

"[This] at a time when they should be planning for their retirement. I will always be profoundly grateful for their support.”

During the episode, Cooper and his mother were diagnosed with anxiety and depression.

“I do not think I will ever be the same again," he said.

Leyshon, 41, admitted 13 counts of fraud, amounting to just over £1million.

While Thomas, 47, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, with his involvement adding up to £380,000.

An associate, Mark Lee, admitted one count of fraud amounting to £50,000.

Cooper said of Thomas: “Our business relationship and friendship grew from there. I did eventually have concerns about his truthfulness.”

And added about his former wife: “Debra and I are now divorced. I cannot forgive what she has done, but she is the mother of my children.

"During the last three to four of our marriage, Debra changed. She became more distant.

“She became very secretive about how the businesses were going. When I asked her, she would fob me off.”

Judge David Wynn Morgan said: “This case presents an extremely difficult sentencing exercise. The court is going to need time to reflect. I need time to think about this.”

He remanded all three defendants in custody until Friday. The case will be listed for mention under the Proceeds of Crime Act on June 12.