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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Five years for cash con therapist | Five years for cash con therapist |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A counsellor who brainwashed her client into giving her more than £200,000 has been jailed for five years. | A counsellor who brainwashed her client into giving her more than £200,000 has been jailed for five years. |
| Mary McCullagh, 59, who was living in Fordingbridge, Hants, told Nicole Anderson she would return the cash once she inherited a fictitious £9m estate. | Mary McCullagh, 59, who was living in Fordingbridge, Hants, told Nicole Anderson she would return the cash once she inherited a fictitious £9m estate. |
| Miss Anderson, an alcoholic, was also told by McCullagh to keep drinking or she risked dying from a fit. | Miss Anderson, an alcoholic, was also told by McCullagh to keep drinking or she risked dying from a fit. |
| McCullagh was found guilty of 12 counts of obtaining money by deception and one of obtaining property by deception. | McCullagh was found guilty of 12 counts of obtaining money by deception and one of obtaining property by deception. |
| McCullagh, who had previous convictions for fraud, ran a practice in Bournemouth, Dorset. | McCullagh, who had previous convictions for fraud, ran a practice in Bournemouth, Dorset. |
| Judge John Beashel jailed her for a total of five years, telling her she would be released after two and a half years on licence. | Judge John Beashel jailed her for a total of five years, telling her she would be released after two and a half years on licence. |
| Any alcoholic wants to be told that they can drink Nicole Anderson | Any alcoholic wants to be told that they can drink Nicole Anderson |
| He said: "I am satisfied you carefully targeted your victims. The offences relating to Miss Anderson are particularly unattractive as you took advantage of your position as her counsellor. | He said: "I am satisfied you carefully targeted your victims. The offences relating to Miss Anderson are particularly unattractive as you took advantage of your position as her counsellor. |
| "These were cruel deceptions. You told Miss Anderson you were seriously ill and you were to receive a substantial inheritance. | "These were cruel deceptions. You told Miss Anderson you were seriously ill and you were to receive a substantial inheritance. |
| "These offences were committed against a vulnerable woman who regarded you as a close and trusted friend. | "These offences were committed against a vulnerable woman who regarded you as a close and trusted friend. |
| "For four years you and your family have enjoyed the life of Riley at your victims' expense. | "For four years you and your family have enjoyed the life of Riley at your victims' expense. |
| "Even when Miss Anderson ran out of money you persuaded her to get a loan to provide you with more funds." | "Even when Miss Anderson ran out of money you persuaded her to get a loan to provide you with more funds." |
| Second victim | Second victim |
| During the trial, Miss Anderson told the jury the therapist had encouraged her to drink as much as she wanted, saying she could have a fatal fit if she stopped. | During the trial, Miss Anderson told the jury the therapist had encouraged her to drink as much as she wanted, saying she could have a fatal fit if she stopped. |
| She told the court: "It was fantastic news. Any alcoholic wants to be told that they can drink." | She told the court: "It was fantastic news. Any alcoholic wants to be told that they can drink." |
| The court also heard how McCullagh brainwashed Miss Anderson into believing her family were trying to section her and she should break contact with them. | The court also heard how McCullagh brainwashed Miss Anderson into believing her family were trying to section her and she should break contact with them. |
| Nicole Anderson was advised to drink as much as she wanted | |
| The jury at Bournemouth Crown Court also heard that when Miss Anderson had begun running out of money, McCullagh moved on to a second victim, David Oliver. | The jury at Bournemouth Crown Court also heard that when Miss Anderson had begun running out of money, McCullagh moved on to a second victim, David Oliver. |
| The court heard how she embarked on an affair with him and tricked him into giving her £9,000, which she said she needed to fund psychological treatment for her son in America. | The court heard how she embarked on an affair with him and tricked him into giving her £9,000, which she said she needed to fund psychological treatment for her son in America. |
| McCullagh, who now lives in Wexford, Ireland, chose not to give evidence during the trial. | McCullagh, who now lives in Wexford, Ireland, chose not to give evidence during the trial. |
| Judge Beashel heard that McCullagh had several previous convictions for fraud and was jailed for a month in 1981. | Judge Beashel heard that McCullagh had several previous convictions for fraud and was jailed for a month in 1981. |