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SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6313617.stmJail for lonely-hearts conwoman
A woman who conned tens of thousands of pounds from men she met through newspaper and internet dating sites has been jailed for two years.
Emma Golightly, from Meadowfield Gardens in Walkerville, Newcastle, claimed to be a wealthy businesswoman.
The 22-year-old, who even convinced one man she had cancer so he would marry her, used her victims' credit cards to fund her lavish lifestyle.
She was jailed after admitting theft and obtaining property by deception.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that her 18-month crime spree included more than 80 offences and was worth £254,000.
The cash was spent on holidays, fast cars, shoes and beauty treatments.
Lavish gifts
Golightly told one of the men that she had terminal cancer and did not want to die an unmarried woman.
She then took him on an £8,000 honeymoon, which he was unaware was paid for using his credit card.
A year later, she arranged another wedding with another man, and again paid for it with his credit card without his knowledge, the court heard.
Judge David Wood told Golightly: "Over a period of quite a long time you befriended a number of men and pretended to them you were rich, terminally ill and in need of a husband.
"You encouraged them by offering lavish gifts whilst all the time you had stolen their cheque books or credit cards and were using them for your own advantage."
He accepted that she was suffering from a personality disorder but said the offences of theft, deception and attempted deception were so serious that only custody could be justified.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6313617.stm
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