A lesbian, who conned users on gay website chatrooms out of over £90,000, has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Joann Wood, 53, trawled online dating agencies for victims, telling them that she was terminally ill with cancer and needed money for treatment.
Today, victim Catherine Wheldon told St Alban’s Crown Court how she had lost her life savings of £28,000, and was now £53,000 in debt after falling for the lies.
David Chrimes, prosecuting, said that Miss Wheldon had been forced to return to work in order to clear her debts.
The court was told that, in all, Wood had conned her victims out of almost £100,000.
Mr Chrimes told the court: ‘What the defendant has done here, in the most dramatic and cynical fashion, is to take advantage of their good nature by spinning yarns to victims, some of which were cruel, some of which were untrue.’
He told the court that the lies included tales that she had cancer and a variety of tumours.
Wood also claimed that she was a vet and even a police officer – in one case telling a victim that she was an expert in the gold trade and investments, the court heard.
It heard that one man had given £10,000, which she spent on herself rather than investing as promised.
Wood appeared for sentence today following convictions earlier this morning of four charges of obtaining property by deception, two offences of fraud by false representation and two offences of possessing a Class A drug.
Wood, of Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City, is thought to have conned victims across the UK with her claim that she was dying.
Once she had gained their trust by declaring her love for them, she would ask for money for cancer treatment.
On other occasions, she befriended elderly people, some of whom themselves were terminally ill, and acted as their carer.
From them she was able to steal medication which she used to persuade other victims that she was being treated for cancer. Her eldest victim was in her mid-80’s.
Mr Chrimes told the court how Miss Wheldon first met the defendant in 2005 through a dating site.
He said a friendship was formed which blossomed into a relationship.
But when Wood told the other woman she was suffering from cancer, Miss Wheldon handed over thousands of pounds over an 18 month period, he told the court.
Miss Wheldon gave Wood her life savings of £28,000, and was later persuaded to take out four credit cards and withdraw money on each of them.
‘All this money was obtained under false pretences,’ said Mr Chrimes
‘It was a cruel and false story of the defendant about having cancer and which has no truth whatsoever.’
Christine Matuszowicz, who lost £10,000, said that she believed Wood had hidden the money away.
‘She was never one to live the lavish lifestyle, so where did the money go? I think she has hidden it away for when she comes out.
‘I would have liked to have seen her get longer, because this woman can’t change and I think other people will fall victim to her when she comes out of prison.’
Also believing the lie that Wood had been suffering from cancer, online dating site user Janice Graham, lost £22,000, while Julie Ferguson parted with £3,000, and William Moult, £1,500.
Wood’s deceptions also extended to staying in hotels and leaving without paying bills, in one case, stealing a Landrover car from the property owners.
The court heard that Wood had a string of previous offences dating as far back as 1976. In total she had twelve convictions, including one for impersonating a police officer, predominantly for fraud and theft.
Miss Nichola Cafferkey, defending, said that by pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, Wood was now taking full responsibility for her crimes.
‘She stands before you today, 53 years old, with an appalling record for offences of dishonesty.’
In the past, she said, Wood had suffered from a gambling addition which had left her with substantial debts.
But Miss Cafferkey also conceded greed had played its part in the offence.
‘She accepts she has caused an enormous amount of pain and distress to the people she has conned,’ said Miss Cafferkey, adding that Wood knew she would face an inevitable prison sentence.
‘Over the past twenty or so years it’s plain her life has been characterised by a web of lies. She found it difficult to know where the truth began and the lies ended.’
Wood’s crimes came to light after an anonymous tip off reached Derbyshire Police via Crimestoppers.
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