A group of individuals who fell victim to a repeat con artist have disclosed that they have only received a fraction of the amount she was directed to pay them in restitution seven months ago following the exposure of a fraudulent scheme centered around a fabricated wedding. Charlotte Blackwell, a resident of Bridgend, narrowly avoided incarceration after deceiving her then-fiancé’s mother and family acquaintances, who now allege that she has disregarded the court’s directives.
The 31-year-old, previously implicated in a scam targeting a children’s cancer charity, devised fictitious wedding arrangements as a means to alleviate her gambling debts. Between 2022 and 2024, she managed to swindle £12,682 from members of the purported wedding party by falsely representing that the funds were for a planned ceremony in Turkey.
The victims, including her then-fiancé’s mother Paula Thomas and three of Ms. Thomas’ friends – Helen Morse, Sue Chapman, and Tracey Roberts, who contributed £3,296, £3,311, £3,272, and £2,803 respectively – were assured by the court that Blackwell would compensate them with £3,500 each to Ms. Thomas, Ms. Chapman, and Ms. Morse, and £3,250 to Ms. Roberts, to account for the additional distress caused by her actions.
Despite Blackwell’s tearful promise to the judge that she would reimburse them at a rate of £400 monthly, the victims claim to have only received £25.45 each from a solitary payment made in early July. Subsequently, Blackwell was fined £200 for failing to attend multiple unpaid work sessions at Cardiff Crown Court, further frustrating her victims awaiting their overdue compensation.
One of the victims, Ms. Morse, expressed astonishment at the situation, stating she was taken aback by Blackwell’s recurring court appearances. She recalled how they had welcomed Blackwell into their social circles, unaware that she was deceiving them for a non-existent wedding. Ms. Morse recounted visiting the travel agency Blackwell purportedly used, only to discover that no bookings had been made, leading to a sense of betrayal and caution in trusting others.
Ms. Morse’s efforts to seek updates on the compensation from the Ministry of Justice have been met with delays, leaving her and the other victims feeling frustrated and disregarded. The elaborate fraud encompassed fabricated flight confirmations, emails, and bank transactions, with Blackwell ultimately pleading guilty to four counts of fraud related to the sham wedding.
During sentencing in March, Blackwell’s barrister mentioned her tumultuous circumstances following her daughter’s cancer diagnosis, attributing her actions to financial pressures and gambling addiction. Despite receiving a suspended sentence for her involvement in the children’s charity fraud, Blackwell continued her deceitful practices, culminating in the wedding scam.
The charity she targeted, Morgan’s Army, established to support families affected by childhood cancer, was left reeling by Blackwell’s exploitation of their generosity. Following the exposure of her fraudulent activities, the frozen funds were recovered, shedding light on her manipulative tactics and their impact on vulnerable individuals.
Amid the ongoing efforts to secure the owed compensations, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice emphasized their commitment to enforcing financial penalties to ensure justice for victims. Despite repeated opportunities to comment on the matter, Blackwell has remained silent, leaving her victims grappling with the repercussions of her deceitful schemes.
