Podcast Summary: Betrayal Weekly — RE-RELEASE: Bernie Pt.1 & Pt. 2
Podcast: Betrayal Weekly
Host: Andrea Gunning
Episode: RE-RELEASE: Bernie Pt.1 & Pt. 2
Release Date: November 27, 2025
Overview
In this emotional and gripping two-part re-release, host Andrea Gunning revisits the listener-favorite story of Bernie Brown. Through first-person narration and candid interview, Bernie recounts his experience falling for “Leo,” a charming, mysterious man with claims of aristocratic lineage, who turned out to be a highly manipulative fraudster. The episode explores not just the devastating personal and financial toll of the betrayal but also themes of resilience, healing, and the power of sharing one’s story to warn others.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Bernie's Upbringing and Search for Connection
- Bernie describes a tough upbringing in London, shaped by domestic violence and a fiercely loving mother who always had an open door for those in need.
- Coming out as gay was met with support from his family, allowing him to embrace his identity and community in the vibrant London queer scene.
- Quote: “My mother, everything I do and the person that I am now is because of who she was and what she showed me.” [04:25]
2. First Love and the Importance of Stability
- Bernie's first serious relationship was formative; after it ended amicably, he maintained hope for a future stable partnership.
- He launched a clothing business, demonstrating a self-reliant spirit and ambition.
3. Meeting Leo: A Whirlwind Romance
- Bernie meets Leo on Grindr; Leo’s initial intrigue lies in his eloquence, apparent wealth, and claims of noble heritage.
- Quote: “He was very articulate and he did speak Queen’s English. Very smooth, but pronounces every word as intended by her Majesty the Queen.” [10:15]
- Leo quickly integrates Bernie into a world of luxury: visits to an upscale trailer, impressive cars (notably a Bentley), fine dining, and mentions of royal connections.
- Leo claims to be “Viscount Norfolk II,” nephew to the Duke of Norfolk, and produces elaborate-looking royal crests for Bernie to examine.
- Quote: “My dad’s brother is the Duke of Norfolk. ... They’re bloodline royals.” [21:58]
4. Red Flags and Emotional Manipulation
- Leo’s secrecy about his family, erratic behavior (nervous about police), and sudden ill health (a brain cancer diagnosis) complicate the relationship.
- Quote: “He was like, I can’t say anything over the phone, but I just need to get out of London… At that point, he told me that he was suffering from brain cancer and they’ve given him a year to live.” [28:06]
- Bernie’s empathy turns him into a caregiver, accepting emotional and logistical burdens, including pretending to be Leo’s assistant to preserve Leo’s “secret.”
5. The Investment Scam
- Leo enlists Bernie’s help in launching a luxury watch business (“The Vintage Crown”), bringing over trunks full of high-end watches.
- Leo then convinces Bernie to invest £20,000 in a Rolex deal, promising a lucrative resale—but Bernie has to raise the money through selling his business, maxing out credit cards, and high-interest loans.
- Quote: “These payday loans, the interest rate is 79% per month, and that’s more than what you’ve borrowed.” [42:01]
- After receiving Bernie’s investment, Leo becomes distant, communication dwindles, and the promised watch is always somehow out of reach.
- Bernie’s personal and financial life unravels as he becomes isolated and emotionally devastated.
- Quote: “He was my world at that point. ... I had stopped talking to my friends, even my best friend.” [44:29]
6. Unraveling the Deception
- Bernie’s suspicions lead him to set up a fake profile on Grindr, catching Leo flirting openly with others under his usual persona.
- When confronted, Leo responds with gaslighting and anger, eventually cutting Bernie out entirely.
7. Aftermath and Investigation
- Friends urge Bernie to see Leo’s actions as theft. He reports Leo to the police, but Leo’s identity proves to be entirely fabricated—no records, cars untraceable, and the supposed royal connections are lies.
- Quote: “It was as if I had completely imagined the entire year, completely imagined it, because this person just did not exist.” [66:53]
- Nearly a year later, a detective alerts Bernie to a true crime documentary about a prolific UK fraudster. Bernie recognizes Leo instantly and finds relief knowing his story is validated.
8. The Bigger Picture: A Serial Con Artist
- Leo is revealed to have scammed numerous victims, using a variety of aliases and stories, including faking cancer, fabricating family ties, and orchestrating elaborate watch and car scams.
- Leo absconded from prison while Bernie knew him and was running similar cons nationwide, including scamming Harrods out of £500,000.
- Victims, including the “grandparents” Bernie met, turn out to be other people Leo was deceiving.
- Quote: “He was doing exactly the same to them.” [77:44]
9. Healing and Reflection
- Bernie describes the long-term psychological toll—distrust, depression, and shame—but also the resilience found in sharing his story and connecting with other victims.
- Quote: “TikTok was instrumental ... When I went on and I saw the TikToks around narcissism and around the discard, the gaslighting, all of that, that for me was just the awakening moment.” [89:38]
- He finds strength in a new relationship, supportive friends, and in warning others.
- Quote: “What’s happened to me is done. But if I can share and open somebody else’s eyes and say, you know, if this ain’t right, then it’s worth it.” [92:27]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Trauma and Resilience:
“If I didn’t have my friends around me at the time, I don’t know if I would actually be here to this day.” — Bernie Brown [62:49] -
On Being Gaslit:
“The gaslighting started ... I put it in my diary, I put it here. No, we didn’t have that conversation.” — Bernie Brown [58:21] -
On the Realization:
“Now I have proof that it happens. ... There was always, I’m sure, an element of doubt because it was so extraordinary to happen to me or to anyone. ... it was that overwhelming, almost joyous feeling of I told you this did happen.” — Bernie Brown [73:09] -
On Leo’s Psychology:
“Every time he created this persona, ... he threw himself so hard into it that he then started to believe that he was this person.” — Bernie Brown [81:01] -
Final Message:
“I know for a fact that there’s thousands of Leos around the world. That’s why this conversation, I think, is massively, massively important.” — Bernie Brown [92:27]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Bernie’s Childhood and Coming Out: 03:24–05:18
- Meeting Leo; First Impressions & Early Dates: 08:33–12:36
- Leo’s Noble Claims & Bernie’s Growing Doubts: 16:54–24:15
- Illness Revealed & Shifting Relationship: 27:17–29:34
- The Watch Scheme Unfolds: 31:22–41:52
- Financial Ruin and Isolation: 44:19–46:11
- Exposure of Leo’s Manipulation: 59:43–62:19
- Aftermath & Search for Justice: 62:49–66:53
- Connecting Leo to a Larger Fraud Network: 72:35–78:39
- Bernie’s Healing and Message to Listeners: 89:38–92:27
Tone & Style
This episode is deeply personal, emotional, and raw—alternating between heartbreak and hope, cynicism and resilience. Bernie narrates his ordeal with honesty, humility, and eventually, empowerment, inviting listeners to recognize warning signs and find strength in community.
Conclusion
Bernie’s harrowing tale is both a cautionary account of how easily trust can be weaponized by narcissists and a story of survival. By telling his story, Bernie hopes to safeguard others and foster healing—reminding us of the power in speaking up, seeking help, and reclaiming control, even after the deepest betrayals.