Victims of a repeated con artist disclosed that they have only received £100 out of the £13,750 she was instructed to repay them seven months ago following a scam involving a fictitious wedding. Charlotte Blackwell, a resident of Bridgend, narrowly escaped jail time after deceiving her then-fiancé’s mother and family friends, who now accuse her of disregarding the court’s ruling.
The 31-year-old, previously involved in fraudulent activities against a children’s cancer charity, devised imaginary wedding arrangements to settle her gambling debts. Between 2022 and 2024, she defrauded £12,682 from individuals purportedly involved in the planned wedding in Turkey.
The four victims, including her then-fiancé’s mother Paula Thomas and three acquaintances – Helen Morse, Sue Chapman, and Tracey Roberts, paid varying sums ranging from £2,803 to £3,311 each. In March, Blackwell was sentenced to a suspended jail term, community service, and ordered to compensate each victim between £3,250 and £3,500 to address the distress caused.
Although Blackwell promised to repay £400 monthly, the victims claim to have only received £25.45 each from a single payment in early July. Recently, she was fined £200 for missing multiple community service appointments, adding to the frustration of the victims awaiting their due compensation.
Helen Morse, employed at a GP surgery, expressed disbelief at the situation, highlighting the trust broken and caution instilled by Blackwell’s actions. Despite their efforts to reclaim their losses, the victims feel neglected and demand fair treatment.
The fraudulent scheme involved fabricated flight confirmations, counterfeit emails from travel agencies, and bogus bank transactions. Blackwell admitted guilt to four counts of fraud related to the deceitful wedding scheme.
During sentencing in March, her lawyer, Alice Sykes, disclosed Blackwell’s personal struggles, including her daughter’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent financial challenges. Blackwell, a full-time estate agent receiving Universal Credit, had previously evaded imprisonment for attempted charity fraud.
The charity targeted, Morgan’s Army, supports families affected by childhood cancer and was exploited by Blackwell shortly after the tragic loss of Morgan Ridler. Natalie Ridler, Morgan’s mother, exposed Blackwell’s deception and emphasized the vulnerability of their situation.
Efforts to recover the funds owed to the victims are ongoing, with the Ministry of Justice committed to ensuring justice is served. Blackwell declined to provide a statement on the matter.