American fugitive Nicholas Rossi portrayed himself in Glasgow as a well-spoken English aristocrat who was educated at Cambridge University and worked here as a professor.
He drank in local pubs, dressed in flamboyant clothing and made out to friends and neighbours that he and wife Miranda had led a lavish lifestyle but were now settling in the city to have a family.
In reality, the convicted sex offender had faked his own death in the US and was hiding from the FBI.
The Sunday Mail can reveal Rossi and Miranda, 41, moved from Bristol in May last year and rented a flat in Woodlands, Glasgow, which they hoped to buy.
His 64-year-old landlord, who asked not to be named, told how he too was duped by Rossi, who he would meet for lunch and drinks and who had even been a guest in his home.
He said: “He appeared well off and money was never an issue.
"My tenant was a real ‘techie’ guy and had a lot of computers and mobiles. He was very well spoken, very kind and a God-fearing person”.
The landlord said Rossi had a bad limp and walked with the aid of a stick.
He added: “The flat being on the ground floor was ideal for him. He told me he had studied in Cambridge and come here to do further studies at Glasgow Uni but working from home.
“He had a perfect English accent and there was not a trace of an American twang.
“He spoke as if he was an aristocrat. He showed me pictures of his big house Bristol and the nice big cars out front.
“He gave the name Arthur-Knight and then after a couple of months he asked to be known as Arthur Knight Brown. He said he had taken on his wife’s maiden name.
“He told me that his wife wanted a child. He always paid on time and there were no issues with the rent. I was shocked to discover he wasn’t who he said he was.”
But Kenny Low, owner of the Arlington Bar in Woodlands Road, said Rossi would come in about twice a week and he did notice his American twang after a few drinks.
The fugitive would sit in the pub’s famous ‘Stone of Destiny’ seat.
Kenny said: “He would wear a tweed jacket, a cravat and chinos. He would always sit on his own but would join in chat with other drinkers. He was also very opinionated.
“He told me his family had land in Ireland, London and New York. He always gave me the impression of old money. It wasn’t until I read about the arrest on Thursday that we realised it was the same man.”
A neighbour said: “The last time I heard from him was when he was in hospital.
“It wasn’t until after the police arrived at his door that I discovered who he was. It was terrible shock.”
