UK Woman Admits to Elaborate £100,000 Romance Fraud Scheme
A 50-year-old woman from Northumberland has confessed to orchestrating a sophisticated romance fraud, deceiving multiple men out of more than £100,000 by posing as a wealthy model awaiting a massive inheritance. Gemma Kingsley, from Beadnell, entered guilty pleas at Swindon Crown Court this week, admitting to a series of theft and fraud offences that police describe as a prolonged pattern of calculated deception spanning several relationships.
Forged Documents and False Promises of Fortune
Court documents reveal that between 2016 and 2018, Kingsley maintained a relationship with one victim while consistently claiming she was about to inherit £42 million from her grandfather. To substantiate her elaborate story, she produced forged letters and falsely asserted that a solicitor had confirmed she would soon receive £16 million from what she termed a "total inheritance fund."
Convinced the funds were imminent, the victim spent tens of thousands of pounds on Kingsley's behalf. This included furniture for a new home, dental bills, personal debt payments, and expenses related to a wedding that ultimately never occurred. The victim also granted Kingsley access to his bank cards, which she used to make unauthorized withdrawals.
In a particularly audacious move, Kingsley opened a betting account in the victim's name, deposited substantial sums of his money into it, and subsequently lost the funds through gambling. By the conclusion of their relationship, the court papers confirm the victim had "lost in excess of £100,000."
Multiple Victims and Expanding Deception
The following year, Kingsley initiated a relationship with another man, repeating the same false narrative about an impending vast inheritance. Based on these claims, he assisted in funding significant deposits for a Land Rover and a Porsche, along with luxury hotel stays the couple could not genuinely afford. This second victim was also left with substantial debt after Kingsley repeatedly used his bank cards without proper authorization.
Investigators uncovered two additional short-lived relationships in autumn 2019, during which Kingsley utilized victims' personal and company bank cards to make purchases without their knowledge. Beyond her romantic partners, police discovered evidence that she had committed theft and fraud against other victims, including a solicitor's firm and a bank, by falsifying documents and letters.
Police Investigation and Court Proceedings
Wiltshire Police stated that the case emerged in 2019 after receiving a report that Kingsley had fraudulently used the bank details of her mother's friend to pay for a stay at Cromhall Farm near Chippenham. As inquiries advanced, several other investigations into Kingsley from different police forces were transferred to Wiltshire for consolidation.
At Swindon Crown Court on Wednesday, Kingsley pleaded guilty to six counts of theft, four counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of using a false instrument with intent that it be accepted as genuine, and one count of possessing an article for use in fraud.
Deep Emotional and Financial Harm
Detective Constable Melissa Pope, from Wiltshire Police's fraud team, emphasized that Kingsley's offending had caused profound and lasting damage. "Kingsley wove a web of lies with her victims, causing significant emotional anxiety and long-term mental and financial harm," she stated.
"She manipulated their emotions, assuring them that through her future inheritance she would be able to repay the considerable sums of money that they were spending on her behalf." DC Pope noted that the impact extended beyond mere financial loss. "For one of the victims, an expensive wedding which had been planned, for which the victim's relatives had booked to come from Australia, was cancelled at short notice," she explained.
DC Pope added that Kingsley continued to obstruct the judicial process even after police involvement. "Following the launch of our investigation, Kingsley delayed the court process, denying what she had done until the final moment before a trial would be arranged. She lied continuously through the investigation, giving false statements and communicating various health issues as to why she shouldn't face charges."
Expressing hope for the victims' recovery, DC Pope said, "I'm pleased she has finally admitted the romance fraud charges against her, as well as a number of other fraud and theft offences relating to other victims. I hope that her victims can now start to move on from this traumatic experience. It is a huge breach of trust and self-esteem, which can take years to recover from."
Gemma Kingsley has been remanded in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on March 25.
