Woman who conned relatives with fake wedding back in court

An estate agent who faked her own wedding to pay off gambling debts has been fined for breaching her community service order.

Charlotte Blackwell, 31, from Bridgend, had previously admitted conning relatives and friends out of more than £12,000 with fake travel and hotel documents.

Cardiff Crown Court heard she had failed to complete unpaid work that formed part of a suspended sentence for fraud and finished less than half of the 120 hours she was ordered to do.

Her barrister said Blackwell felt huge remorse and was taking steps to pay the money back.

Blackwell got engaged to her partner Daniel Thomas after a five-year relationship and had told relatives she needed money for their wedding abroad.

The court heard she convinced relatives and friends about her wedding plans, using fake flight documents and hotel bookings to support the story.

She told officers: "I'm sorry, it was to pay off debts and gambling. I have now put a block to all sites."

But she was back in court after breaching the terms of the suspended jail sentence for that fraud.

She had completed just over 55 of 120 hours of unpaid work ordered. She had attended 21 out of 34 appointments, with "unacceptable absences" putting her in breach.

Blackwell was fined £50 and told to pay £150 in costs.

Judge Eugene Egan told her: "Please don't come back again, Ms Blackwell. No one wants to see you fail on this order - least of all you."

He added: "The ball is in your court. Please make sure you complete this order - you're fully capable of doing it I have no doubt."

Prosecutor Anisha Rai said one victim, Helen Mors, had contacted travel company TUI after spotting spelling mistakes on booking documents and was told the reference number related to a different holiday.

Blackwell had created fake flight confirmations, emails and bank transactions to make the scam appear genuine, Ms Rai told the court.

Victims transferred a total of £12,682 believing they were helping to pay for wedding costs, only to later discover it was a lie.

In a statement read to the court, one victim, Sue Chapman, said the experience had left her anxious and unable to sleep.

"I'm now wary of paying for anything in case I lose more money," she said.

Police were told Blackwell had "falsely arranged" the event to pay off mounting online gambling debts.

The court also heard about an earlier fraud involving Morgan's Army, a children's cancer charity set up after the death of three-year old Morgan Ridler.

Blackwell had claimed her daughter needed £4,000 for treatment in Germany, despite her child already being in remission.

Judge Jonathan Rees KC, who sentenced her for those offences, said she targeted people "at one of their most vulnerable periods."

Her solicitor said she had shown "huge remorse" and had taken steps to block gambling websites.

Defending, Alice Sykes said her client had been going through a difficult period and had since taken steps to prevent gambling again.

She said Blackwell gave up her work to deal with her financial problems but was now back in full-time employment.

The court heard she now works as an estate agent, while receiving Universal Credit, and was bringing up two children.

Blackwell was ordered to complete the remaining 55 hours of unpaid work and continue with rehabilitation sessions, as directed.