Dewsbury, West Yorkshire — What began as a modern-day fairytale romance on dating apps has morphed into an absolute nightmare for a 68-year-old British grandmother. Dawn Otewell says she has been left heartbroken, financially drained, and terrified for her family’s future after her 31-year-old Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, allegedly “did a runner” shortly after securing his UK spouse visa.
The Web of Deception
The story began in 2021 when Dawn, feeling lonely and battling depression, turned to dating apps Tinder and Plenty of Fish. She soon matched with a man claiming to be “Brian Thomas,” a successful professional in his thirties.
The truth, however, was quite different. Wow!
After moving their chats to WhatsApp, “Brian” confessed his real identity: Bright Emokpae, a fashion student in his mid-20s from Edo State, Nigeria. Despite the blatant early deception and the 37-year age gap, Dawn admits she fell head over heels for his affectionate words and daily video calls.
Eight months later, Dawn flew to Northern Cyprus, where Bright was living on a student visa. Persuaded to stay longer than her planned two-week trip, the couple tied the knot at a registry office in Nicosia on March 22, 2022.
The Visa and The Vanishing Act
Following the wedding, Bright returned to Nigeria to process his UK spouse visa, which was approved roughly a year later. Dawn joyfully welcomed him at Heathrow Airport, completely unaware of the heartbreak that lay ahead.
According to Dawn, the honeymoon phase ended the moment he settled in the UK. Even though Dawn’s 72-year-old brother, Rory, helped Bright secure a job at a local door manufacturing firm, Bright allegedly:
- Became emotionally distant and cold
- Refused to contribute to household expenses
- Constantly demanded money from Dawn
- Regularly funnelled large sums of cash back to Nigeria
The couple initially separated in October 2023. However, in a twist of fate, Dawn received a massive £63,000 medical compensation payout following a botched NHS procedure. Shortly after the windfall, the couple mysteriously reconciled.
The final straw came just before Christmas 2024. Dawn took her brother on a £2,000 Caribbean cruise. Bright was reportedly furious, insisting the money should have been used to clear his personal debts. By the time Dawn returned home, Bright had packed his bags and vanished. Unceremoniously into the thin air!
“I Feel I’m Being Used”
It has now been eight months since Bright walked out the door. He has completely blocked Dawn on all social media platforms and is adamantly refusing to sign divorce papers.
Dawn, who suffers from severe health issues including heart disease, angina, and sciatica, is now living in a state of constant anxiety. She suspects Bright is hiding out somewhere in Scotland, waiting for the auspicious moment to pounce on her finances!.
“He’s done a runner and is refusing to sign the divorce papers because I believe he wants to cling on to his spouse visa and remain in the UK ,” Dawn revealed. “My biggest fear is that I might die before this is sorted out and he’ll run off with the money my three children should naturally inherit.”
Because Dawn has not drafted a legal will, Bright could potentially have a legal claim to her cash, jewellery, furniture, and property if she passes away before the divorce is finalised. She has now enlisted the help of Citizens Advice to track him down and forcefully serve him the divorce documents.
A Growing Trend of Visa Romance Scams
Dawn’s heartbreaking ordeal is unfortunately not an isolated incident. Across the UK and the US, authorities are seeing a disturbing rise in cases where foreign nationals use marriage to older, vulnerable citizens as a backdoor entry into the country or for financial gain.
In a strikingly similar scenario recently highlighted by the Brekete Family human rights program, a US-based woman travelled to Nigeria to marry a man she met on Facebook, funding the entire wedding and his family’s expenses. Just two days after their Abuja court wedding, the groom completely vanished, leaving her stranded and demanding a divorce.
The FBI and international fraud agencies continually warn citizens about romance scammers who build rapid emotional connections online, push for marriage, and eventually drain their victims financially before disappearing.
For Dawn, the lesson has been learned the hard way. “I would advise people to be very careful who they marry, especially when the person is from abroad, because a lot of them are just doing it for a visa, and then they disappear,” she warned.
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