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Jail for lonely hearts conwoman | Jail for lonely hearts conwoman |
(30 minutes later) | |
A woman who conned tens of thousands of pounds from men she met through newspaper and internet dating sites has been jailed for two years. | A woman who conned tens of thousands of pounds from men she met through newspaper and internet dating sites has been jailed for two years. |
Emma Golightly, from Meadowfield Gardens in Walkerville, Newcastle, claimed to be a wealthy businesswoman. | Emma Golightly, from Meadowfield Gardens in Walkerville, Newcastle, claimed to be a wealthy businesswoman. |
The 22-year-old, who even convinced one man she had cancer so he would marry her, used her victim's credit cards to fund her lavish lifestyle. | The 22-year-old, who even convinced one man she had cancer so he would marry her, used her victim's credit cards to fund her lavish lifestyle. |
She was jailed after admitting theft and obtaining property by deception. | She was jailed after admitting theft and obtaining property by deception. |
Newcastle Crown Court heard that her 18-month crime spree included more than 80 offences and was worth £254,000. | |
The cash was spent on holidays, fast cars, shoes and beauty treatments. | |
Lavish gifts | |
Golightly told one of the men that she had terminal cancer and did not want to die an unmarried woman. | |
She then took him on an £8,000 honeymoon, which he was unaware was paid for using his credit card. | |
A year later, she arranged another wedding with another man, and again paid for it with his credit card without his knowledge. | |
Judge David Wood told Golightly: "Over a period of quite a long time you befriended a number of men and pretended to them you were rich, terminally ill and in need of a husband. | |
"You encouraged them by offering lavish gifts whilst all the time you had stolen their cheque books or credit cards and were using them for your own advantage." | |
He accepted that she was suffering from a personality disorder but said the offences of theft, deception and attempted deception were so serious that only custody could be justified. |