This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-27868511
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fake surrogate mother Louise Pollard jailed | Fake surrogate mother Louise Pollard jailed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman who pretended to be a surrogate mother and took money from two couples has been jailed for three years and four months. | A woman who pretended to be a surrogate mother and took money from two couples has been jailed for three years and four months. |
| Louise Pollard, 28, from Plymouth, had admitted three charges of fraud at an earlier hearing at Bristol Crown Court. | Louise Pollard, 28, from Plymouth, had admitted three charges of fraud at an earlier hearing at Bristol Crown Court. |
| In one instance, she had faked a doctor's letter claiming she was pregnant, the court heard. | In one instance, she had faked a doctor's letter claiming she was pregnant, the court heard. |
| After being paid by the couples, she claimed she had miscarriages. One couple from Cornwall paid her £10,185. | After being paid by the couples, she claimed she had miscarriages. One couple from Cornwall paid her £10,185. |
| 'Breathtaking deception' | |
| Pollard, from Higher Efford Road, who had been a personal assistant, offered herself as a surrogate mother to the couples in 2012. | Pollard, from Higher Efford Road, who had been a personal assistant, offered herself as a surrogate mother to the couples in 2012. |
| She told the Cornish couple she was pregnant with their child on two occasions that year. | She told the Cornish couple she was pregnant with their child on two occasions that year. |
| She kept asking for money for rent, to fix her car and for other expenses, the court heard. | She kept asking for money for rent, to fix her car and for other expenses, the court heard. |
| As part of her frauds, Pollard claimed one pregnancy ended as a result after a car accident, but no trace of a collision was ever found, the court was told. | As part of her frauds, Pollard claimed one pregnancy ended as a result after a car accident, but no trace of a collision was ever found, the court was told. |
| Prosecuting, Rosie Collins said: "She played on their desire to have children. She holds all the cards and they have to work on trust." | Prosecuting, Rosie Collins said: "She played on their desire to have children. She holds all the cards and they have to work on trust." |
| Defending, Jason Taylor told the court she had been a genuine surrogate, having had two such babies previously. | Defending, Jason Taylor told the court she had been a genuine surrogate, having had two such babies previously. |
| However, in these cases, she used money paid to play debts run up by drugs, he said. | However, in these cases, she used money paid to play debts run up by drugs, he said. |
| Passing sentence, Judge Graham Cottle said: "Using your skills as a fraudster, you earned their trust. | Passing sentence, Judge Graham Cottle said: "Using your skills as a fraudster, you earned their trust. |
| "You carried out one breathtaking deception after another, making them believe that you were going to provide them with what they desperately wanted." | "You carried out one breathtaking deception after another, making them believe that you were going to provide them with what they desperately wanted." |
| He added it was "not a case of financial loss, it's a case of two desperate couples being taken in by you and your lies. | He added it was "not a case of financial loss, it's a case of two desperate couples being taken in by you and your lies. |
| "Yes, they have lost money, but they have ended up heartbroken," he said. | "Yes, they have lost money, but they have ended up heartbroken," he said. |
| Det Con Mark Gilbert, from Avon and Somerset Police, praised the couples who contacted police after "such an emotional rollercoaster". | |
| He said: "To come forward and tell the police about something so personal took a lot of courage." |