The victims of a notorious con artist have disclosed that they have only received £100 out of the £13,750 she was instructed to repay seven months ago following a fraudulent scheme involving a fictitious wedding. Charlotte Blackwell, a resident of Bridgend, narrowly escaped imprisonment after deceiving her then-fiancé’s mother and close acquaintances, who now accuse her of disregarding the court’s directives.
The 31-year-old, previously implicated in defrauding a children’s cancer charity, fabricated elaborate wedding arrangements to alleviate her gambling debts. Between 2022 and 2024, she extracted £12,682 from individuals purportedly involved in the planned ceremony in Turkey.
The four victims included Paula Thomas, her then-fiancé’s mother, who contributed £3,296, and three friends of Ms. Thomas – Helen Morse, Sue Chapman, and Tracey Roberts – who paid £3,311, £3,272, and £2,803 respectively. Blackwell was sentenced in March to a suspended prison term, community service, and ordered to compensate each victim with varying amounts to account for the distress caused.
Despite Blackwell’s promise to make monthly repayments of £400, the victims claim to have received only £25.45 each from a solitary payment made in early July. Blackwell’s failure to attend unpaid work appointments led to a £200 fine in Cardiff Crown Court, exacerbating the frustration of her victims awaiting overdue compensation.
Ms. Morse, an employee at a GP surgery, expressed her astonishment at Blackwell’s repeated court appearances and the betrayal of trust. Recalling the events, she recounted the deception surrounding the nonexistent wedding, highlighting the lasting impact on their trust in others.
Efforts to recover the compensation from Blackwell have proven arduous, with the victims feeling neglected and let down by the justice system. Blackwell’s fraudulent activities, including fabricating flight confirmations and emails, were part of a larger pattern of deceit that led to her involvement in multiple scams and court proceedings.