GULTY: Bogus Special Forces War Hero Facing Jail For £111K Swindle

Who Dares Swindles: Mark Fitt

A fake SAS Colonel was convicted yesterday of stealing and swindling £111,137 from two girlfriends, a retired chief superintendent and an investor.

Ladies man Mark Fitt, 43, described by one ex as “charming and charismatic” wowed his victims with tall tales of serving in the special forces and French Foreign Legion.

He was dating a policewoman while stealing from another girlfriend, who he convinced his company - N49 Intelligence - was going to make a fortune in the Middle-East and Africa.

Fitt, of James Terrace, Mortlake was found guilty of stealing £33,690 from business analyst Hilary Davies, 57, and £45,874 from interior designer Tracey Saunders, 45.

He was also convicted of defrauding retired police chief superintendent Mark Veljovic, 59, of £30,000 and stealing £1600 from investor Oliver Tonkin.

Fitt, who says he comes from a military family and served six years in the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, will be sentenced on September 15 and even his lawyer Robert Ellison said: “He’s clearly facing a prison sentence.”

Deceived: Hilary Davies

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Fitt would hold court in the pubs of leafy Barnes, south-west London, where he charmed all of his victims.

He claimed to be an expert in kidnapping and extortion with large companies and insurers willing to pay £200,000-£300,000 per quarter for his skills in troublespots like Libya and Somalia.

“I thought he was very charming, his voice was quite hypnotic and I trusted him as a nice character,” said Ms Davies. “I was hoping it would be a relationship at one point.”

Ms Saunders told the jury: “I was very worried about him, his stress levels and financial situation. I cared about him and wanted to help.”

While dating Ms Saunders Fitt was seeing policewoman Zoe Richardson and defrauded her housemate, Mr. Veljovic.

One witness told the court Fitt sported a regimental tie in the pub one Remembrance Sunday and proudly displayed nine service medals, some SAS, for service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, Fitt denied this, explaining: “They were fake, they were not real and I had them when I dressed up as Colonel Gadaffi at a fancy dress party.”

Tricked: Tracey Saunders

Ms Davis explained: “He said he was a specialist with UK special forces and the UK security services.

“He was very persuasive and I felt empathy towards him. I still had funds in my limited company and felt I wanted to help him and felt that he was building up his future.”

Ms Davies told the court their relationship revolved around meetings and conversations. When asked if it was a sexual relationship she replied: “Not very actively.”

Within weeks Fitt was asking her for cash to tide his business over. “He was a confident person and gave me the impression he had money in the past.

“I wanted to help him and he was very charismatic,” explained Ms Davies, who also paid Fitt’s rent and what she believed were flights to overseas business meetings.

She funded his non-existent speaking engagement at a London Expo after being impressed by his ‘Project Phoebe’ business plan.

“The revenue forecasts ran into several millions of pounds. This was dishonest and to persuade her and other people to give money,” said prosecutor Mr. Tim Starkey.

She bumped into Fitt at a local cafe in March, 2013. “He was with another woman and wanted to blank me.

Conned: Mark Veljovic

“I was so angry I just spluttered out: ‘Where’s my money. I want my money back.’

“He said I was hassling him and that I was a stalker and he was going to call the police.”

Witnesses mentioned three other women Fitt was seeing at different times during the period and he is now engaged to another woman he runs a publishing company with.

He told Ms Saunders - who knew him as ‘Charlie’ - he had PTSD and began asking her for money after claiming the Foreign Office cancelled one of his contracts. 

She gave him £2,500 for a business trip to Nigeria; £5,000 for a trip to Somalia and also paid his utility bills and financed a three-week Thailand holiday for the couple.

He also signed-on for Jobseekers Allowance and enjoyed holidays to Tenerife and Majorca as well as a trip to the Bahamas and business class flights to Marseilles.

Throughout the trial he insisted he only told people he was merely trained by ex-SAS and French Foreign Legion soldiers in relation to his bodyguard work in Beirut.

He produced false business plans to convince Mr. Veljovic his company would received a lucrative retainer from insurance underwriters.

He even falsely claimed his company was endorsed by the former head of the Met’s kidnap and hostage unit.

“He spent Mr. Veljovic’s investment on a year’s rent,” added Mr. Starkey.

Fitt introduced himself in a local pub as a Colonel to the retired police officer. “He aid he was working on government contracts in the Middle East with other senior military leaders.

“He said he won a contract for kidnap response services and I had no reason to doubt his capabilities, given his links to senior military figures,” said Mr. Veljovic.

Fitt said he never passed himself off as a high-ranking officer. “The closest was my girlfriend Zoe’s nickname for me, she called me Colonel Blimp.”

Carer Convicted Of Ill-Treating Vulnerable Adult

Swan Court

A carer convicted of ill-treating his vulnerable client has received a suspended prison sentence.

Roy Celaire, 29, of Sir Francis Way, Brentwood, Essex fought the case, but was convicted by a jury.

He was charged that between November 14 and 16, 2014 at a flat in Swan Court, High Road, Whetstone he neglected Michael Cohen, a person who lacked mental capacity.

At Harrow Crown Court Celaire was sentenced to five months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered to complete 170 hours community service work.

The jury found him not guilty of causing actual bodily harm to Mr. Cohen at the flat on November 15, 2014.

Celaire may now be subject to inclusion on the barring list, prohibiting him from working with young and vulnerable people and must also pay an £80 victim surcharge.

'Colonel Blimp' Ex-Soldier Denies SAS Fraud On Girlfriends And Retired Cop

Mark: Fitt For Service

An accused fraudster, who denies boasting he was ex-SAS during a £120,000 scam, told a jury his collection of fake service medals were part of his Colonel Gadaffi fancy dress costume.

Mark Fitt, 43, is accused of lying to two girlfriends, a retired detective and an investor to extract money for his non-existent security intelligence company.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard he wore the nine medals - some SAS - for active service in Iraq and Afghanistan along with a regimental tie at a pub one Remembrance Sunday.

“They were fake, they were not real and I had them when I dressed up as Colonel Gadaffi,” he told the court. “I did not wear them on Remembrance Sunday, that would be disrespectful to those that did serve.”

He insisted his company - N49 Intelligence - was genuine and said he never told anybody he was a Colonel in the Army or had served in the French Foreign Legion.

“The closest was my girlfriend Zoe’s nickname for me, she called me Colonel Blimp,” added Fitt.

He said he was raised in Germany and Wales by a military family and served six years in the Queen’s Dragoon Guards.

Former SAS and French Foreign Legion soldiers had trained him in close protection work, resulting in him working as a bodyguard in Beirut for six years, protecting Lebanese politicians, he claimed.

Hilary Davies 

“I wanted to use my brain more and entered the field of intelligence and putting my business hat on I thought: ’There’s a business to be made here.’”

He dated business analyst Hilary Davies, 57, during much of 2012, after meeting her in a Barnes pub, but denies stealing £33,690 from her.

“She offered to help me and I was happy to receive the help for bills, meetings, personal expenses and getting around.

“I was extremely grateful, she helped me out a lot,” said Fitt, insisting paying her back was never discussed.

“She was quite besotted with me and there was a bit of stalking going on. That was unbearable for me, messages at three or four in the morning.”

During the period of the charges Fitt signed-on for Jobseekers Allowance and enjoyed holidays to Tenerife, Majorca and Thailand as well as a trip to the Bahamas and business class flights to Marseilles.

He also denies stealing £45,874 from interior designer Tracey Saunders, 45. “It was to help with the business, she thought it was a viable idea. It was all a loan, an agreement I signed.”

She knew him as ‘Charlie’ and Fitt said that was his middle name and he was known by it as a child.

Tracey Saunders

He admitted not going on a Nigeria business trip she financed, despite pretending to be in the African country during text exchanges. “I needed space, I had PTSD and was not taking any medication.

“I did not offer the money back and she did not ask for it. I came clean two days later and got a slap across the face.”

She only received a tenner back, but Fitt told the court: “I paid more, sixty pounds I think.”

The court heard Fitt also received money from policewoman girlfriend Zoe Richardson and denies defrauding her housemate, retied Chief Superintendent Mark Veljovic, 59, of £30,000.

“He liked the idea. He thought it had merit and that money was part for me, part for the business.

“At this point I was straddling water. I had put so much work and effort into this business I was not going to quit.

Mark Veljovic

“I always said to them they would get their money back. They are loans they have to be repaid.”

Fitt told the jury his business, which involved working with kidnap and ransom insurers in the Middle East and Africa, was ruined by Mr. Veljovic.

He had told the retired detective his company would receive £2000,000-£300,000 per quarter.

“There were all these allegations that I stole from him and defrauded him and that put the spooks up the Lloyds insurance market and I lost everything.”

Fitt refused to answer police questions three times. “I was absolutely shocked. I had never been in that position before.”

He says he now runs a successful publishing company with his fiancé after making a £100,000 investment in the firm.

Fitt, of James Terrace, Mortlake has pleaded not guilty to stealing £33,690 from Ms Davies; £45,874 from Ms Saunders; £11,000 from Oliver Tonkin and defrauding Mr. Veljovic of £30,000 between November 24, 2011 and March 14, 2014.

Trial continues………

Piping Tom: Voyeur High On Sex-Drug GHB Spied On Bed-Time Woman

A late-night prowler told police he was “buzzing” on sex-drug GHB when breaking a drainpipe as he tried to spy on a female banker through the upstairs window of her £1.4m home.

Lee Preston, 21, confessed he fantasised about leering at the 47 year-old woman when he saw her undressing in her bedroom.

Jobless Preston, of Shepherds Lane, Mill End, Rickmansworth pleaded guilty to causing £241 worth of criminal damage to the cast iron pipe in the early hours of March 29.

Prosecutor Miss Caroline Mungal told Wimbledon Magistrates Court that German-born Valerie Rademacher noticed a piece of her broken black drainpipe on her first-floor terrace at 8.30am.

She also spotted a purple hoodie in nearby bushes and a neighbour confirmed hearing noises in the early hours.

CCTV showed Preston wandering around the grounds surrounding the gated property - 24 Southside Quarter, 38 Burns Road, Battersea - in the early hours.

Police arrested Preston, who had been temporarily staying with a friend nearby after making a DNA match to the hoodie.

“He said he was high on GHB and that it made him sexual and he was buzzing off the drugs and had previously been caught masturbating in public when he took it.

“He said he climbed up because he thought it was a turn on after seeing a lady undressing and that he was high that night.

Midnight Climb: Southside Quarter

“Preston told the officers he was very embarrassed and that he was sorry.”

The court heard he has previous convictions for criminal damage and public order offences.

His lawyer Miss Roz Olason told the court: “It was two or three in the morning and the lady was not up and about.

“There is no reason Mr. Preston thought there would be any benefit from climbing up the drainpipe other than he was high on drugs that do cause sexual urges.”

Preston was fined £80, with £40 costs and ordered to pay £241 compensation.

Preston was also charged with attempting to observe a person doing a private act for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, contrary to the Criminal Attempts Act.

This count, which did not name Valerie Rademacher, was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service on the day of Preston’s first appearance.

Fake SAS Hero Accused Of £129K Swindle

"Charming": Fitt

A “charming” and “charismatic” fraudster, who boasted he was ex-SAS, stole and swindled £129,000 out of two girlfriends, a retired senior cop and a fourth investor in his non-existent security intelligence company, a court heard.

Mark Fitt, 43, convinced them he was Colonel in the British Army, having also served in the French Foreign Legion  and had lucrative contracts to work in world trouble-spots, the jury were told.

“I thought he was very charming, his voice was quite hypnotic and I trusted him as a nice character,” business analyst Hilary Davies, 57, told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

She met Fitt, who is accused of stealing £33,690 from her, in a local Barnes pub in November, 2011 and admitted: “I was hoping it would be a relationship at one point.”

Fitt denies also stealing £45,874 from interior designer Tracey Saunders, 45, who said: “I was very worried about him, his stress levels and financial situation. I cared about him and wanted to help.”

While dating Ms Saunders Fitt was seeing policewoman Zoe Richardson and denies defrauding her housemate, retied Chief Superintendent Mark Veljovic, 59, of £30,000.

One witness told the court Fitt sported a regimental tie on Remembrance Sunday and proudly displayed nine service medals, some SAS, for service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I Trusted": Hilary Davies

Ms Davis explained: “He said he was orphaned and had no family life and it appeared quite hardcore, whatever he had been working in.

“He said he was a specialist with UK special forces and the UK security services.

“He was very persuasive and I felt empathy towards him. I still had funds in my limited company and felt I wanted to help him and felt that he was building up his future.”

Prosecutor Mr. Tim Starkey told the jury Fitt convinced his victims he had landed contracts for his company N49 Intelligence as an anti-piracy consultant in Somalia.

“He does have a military background, but it is limited to two years in the Army and a couple of years in the part-time TA.”

Work also supposedly took him to Togo and the Middle East as a counter-terrorism advisor for government agencies, the court was told, with Fitt a particular specialist in kidnapping and ransoms.

Ms Davies told the court their relationship revolved around meetings and conversations. When asked if it was a sexual relationship she replied: “Not very actively.”

Within weeks Fitt was asking her for cash to tide his business over. “He was a confident person and gave me the impression he had money in the past.

“I wanted to help him and he was very charismatic,” explained Ms Davies, who also paid Fitt’s rent and what she believed were flights to overseas business meetings.

She funded his non-existent speaking engagement at a London Expo after being impressed by his ‘Project Phoebe’ business plan.

“The revenue forecasts ran into several millions of pounds. This was dishonest and to persuade her and other people to give money,” added Mr. Starkey.

They were together around a year and Ms Davies added: “I believed always that he’d make good and pay me back otherwise it was like having a child always coming to the sweet shop for more sweets.

"I Cared": Tracey Saunders

“He did not want to have any contact with me at all and said: ‘I don’t owe you anything.’ I got really angered, I wanted my money.”

She bumped into Fitt at a local cafe in March, 2013. “He was with another woman and wanted to blank me.

“I was so angry I just spluttered out: ‘Where’s my money. I want my money back.’

“He said I was hassling him and that I was a stalker and he was going to call the police.”

Mr. Starkey told the jury Fitt dated Ms Saunders from September, 2012 to October, 2013. “He presented himself as someone in MI6 and a colonel in the Army.

“He said he was involved in operations in Syria to eliminate key people in the Asad regime and had experienced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of his active service.”

Fitt began asking for money after claiming the Foreign Office cancelled one of his contracts, the court heard. 

Ms Saunders gave him £2,500 for a business trip to Nigeria; £5,000 for a trip to Somalia and also paid his utility bills and financed a three-week Thailand holiday for the couple.

In Knightsbridge’s Millennium Hotel Fitt told her the Somalia trip was going to be a six-month operation. “She felt upset and deceived.

“However he continued contacting her, asking for more money.” A further £2,200 was taken from Ms Saunders, who has only received a tenner in return.

£30,000: Mark Veljovic

They first met in a Barnes pub, with Fitt introducing himself as ‘Charlie’. “It was clear he had been very high up in the military, serving in the Middle East and Africa in security work.”

She said Fitt also told her he was in the intelligence service and ex-French foreign Legion. “He said the British government just pulled a contract, leaving him in dire financial circumstances.”

The designer also financed one Nigeria business trip only to find Fitt in another Barnes pub. “I was very upset and confused.”

The ladies man, who the trial heard dated at least three other women at differing times, told Ms Saunders another trip she was financing was suddenly a six-month operation.

“I was completely lived, shocked and confused and ended the relationship and he was concerned because he needed the final part of the money.

“He was begging me to pay the final instalment or the trip would be cancelled and I’d have no chance of getting my money.”

The jury were told Fitt produced false business plans to convince retired police officer Mr. Veljovic his company would received a retainer of up to £300,000 per quarter from insurance underwriters.

He even falsely claimed his company was endorsed by the former head of the Met’s kidnap and hostage unit.

“He spent Mr. Veljovic’s investment on a year’s rent,” added Mr. Starkey.

Fitt introduced himself in a local pub as a Colonel to the retired police officer. “He said he was working on government contracts in the Middle East with other senior military leaders.

“He said he won a contract for kidnap response services and I had no reason to doubt his capabilities, given his links to senior military figures.”

Fitt, of James Terrace, Mortlake has pleaded not guilty to stealing £33,690 from Ms Davies; £45,874 from Ms Saunders; £19,570 from Oliver Tonkin and defrauding Mr. Veljovic of £30,000 between November 24, 2011 and March 14, 2014.

Trial continues………

Ex West Ham & Charlton Athletic Star Burgled House During Bizarre Cocaine And Booze-Fueled 'Treasure Hunt'

"Treasure Hunt": Newton

Former football star Shaun Newton has been convicted of burgling a neighbour after a jury rejected his claim he was high on cocaine and obsessed with a bizarre fortieth birthday treasure-hunt.

The ex-West Ham United and Charlton Athletic midfielder, 41, was caught by the occupant rummaging through the man’s belongings, claiming he was looking for car keys when challenged.

Camberwell-born father-of-three Newton, of Glenister Park Road, Streatham, who also represented England’s U-21’s, has been ordered to complete 100 hours community service. 

“He is at a crossroads and his friendship circle tell him he is a superstar and does not need guidance or support,” said Mr. Alex Radley, defending.

“He certainly has not found his feet after football. It is a massive change to his lifestyle and he now lives a day-to-day hand-to-mouth existence.”

Newton, who lives off £1,000 per month rent from two Bow properties, was also ordered to pay £1500 costs an £85 victim surcharge and was fined £200 for jumping bail earlier this year.

“It’s clear you were high on cocaine and alcohol and maybe that’s why you committed the burglary,” Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Recorder Ian Peddie QC told Newton yesterday.

Dinner Time: Samuel Mintah

“Fortunately nothing was taken and in the witness box you gave a bizarre account of your actions, enough to cause the jury and myself to be concerned about your mental health.”

Football bad-boy Newton, who also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, was suspended for seven months in 2006 after testing positive for cocaine after West Ham’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Middlesbrough.

In 2008 he received a suspended prison sentence for perverting the course of justice after accepting money from England forwards Teddy Sheringham and Bobby Zamora in exchange for ‘losing’ their speeding tickets.

He was arrested when police were called to the Miles Road, Mitcham house on May 15, last year, where upstairs occupant Samuel Mintah was enjoying his evening meal at 6pm.

“I saw someone open the door and come in and start searching my bags,” he explained. 

“I said: ‘What are you doing?’ and he said he was looking for a friend’s car key and I told him his friend does not live in this house.

“He started searching. He was going through items by the window as well as the bags on the floor.

“I became enraged and said: ’No! Your friend isn’t living here, this is my room.”

Mr. Mintah called down for another resident, Martin Amunkwaa, to call the police. “The man then wanted to slip away and was begging me to let him go.

“I blocked the way and we waited for the police to come.

“He was very calm and looked like someone who had not slept for some time.”

Break-In: Miles Road

Newton told the jury his fortieth birthday celebration was a wild year-long affair and the day of his arrest was no exception.

“It was along weekend and I was tired and disorientated and confused by the tricks that were played on me at the time.

“I was led to believe there was a car, a Range Rover or whatever, and I was hunting for it. I pulled apart my whole house looking for keys.

“There were things in my house leading me to number plates, stuff like that and I was led to believe I had to do certain things like breaking glass.”

As a result Newton admits he threw two bricks at the windows of a stranger’s parked Porsche. “They just bounced off.

“I was in some treasure hunt or I thought I was,” added Newton. 

“I thought that was where my friend lives, I’d been up a couple of days anyway and I was let in by a man who was on the phone.

Playing Pomp: Newton

“I went upstairs and I was sure the keys were on the windowsill and I was looking for the rest of the clues to solve the puzzle I thought I was in.

“I searched around and I thought the man in the room was part of what was going on until he grabbed hold of me.

“I apologised, I put my hands up and said I had made a mistake and had not done anything wrong.”    

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Witcombe told the court Newton had his hood up as he roamed around the property, having leaned in and taken the front door keys from inside the kitchen window.

“He was giving the impression he had every right to be in the room even though the occupant did not know who on earth he was.”

The same occupant saw his set of keys in Newton’s hand after he was confronted upstairs.

Ex-EastEnders Actress Leanne Lakey Denies Cocaine Smuggling Charge

Court: Lakey

Former EastEnders actress Leanne Lakey has appeared in court accused of smuggling nearly three kilos of cocaine, hidden in the bottom of a suitcase.

The 39 year-old actress, who played Belinda Peacock in the BBC soap between 2001 and 2003, denied the charge at Croydon Crown Court.

Waitress Lakey, of Parklands Drive, Chelmsford, Essex - who also appeared in Family Affairs - will return for a three-day trial on December 18.

She appeared in the dock with Dean Shanahan, 47, of The Ridgeway, Colindale.

Trial: Shanahan

Both pleaded not guilty to one count of importing the Class A drug at Gatwick Airport on December 1, last year.

The prosecution say the cocaine was found in Shanahan’s case and the pair were together in a joint enterprise.

The actress trained at Chiswick’s Arts Educational School and has also appeared in Casualty, The Bill and Holby City.

Both were bailed on condition they reside at their recorded addresses and Shanahan must obey an electronically-tagged curfew between 10pm and 7am.

Lacey will also be allowed to stay at her boyfriend’s place in Chaucer Road, Bedford with the court’s permission.

Popular Philosophy Schoolteacher Caught With Child Abuse Images

Swift Exit: McStraw

A popular schoolteacher’s career is in ruins after he was caught with images of online child abuse during a police raid at his home address.

Philosophy teacher Richard McStraw, 30, also chatted on teen websites and investigators found multiple searches on his laptop for sexually-explicit images of young girls.

Jobless McStraw, of Beckenham Road, Bromley pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a total of 65 Category B and C images.

He received six months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

He taught at Bromley’s Ravensbourne School, a mixed secondary comprehensive of 1500 pupils.

Online tributes from children he taught remain online and include: “We miss him, wherever he may be. Gone too soon,” and simply: “Legend.”

Croydon Crown Court heard officers executed a search warrant on January 25, last year and found sick online images of girls as young as seven years-old being subject to adult sexual abuse.  

McStraw, who claims he had just come out of an 18-month relationship and was depressed, had been searching for young girls online from August 19, 2013.

He typed in such search terms as: ‘young teen underwear,’ ‘young teen modelling,’ ‘underage girls,’ ‘exploited teens’, ‘black teen sex,’ ‘young black girl,’ ‘naughty teen’ ‘naughty schoolgirl’ and ‘underage teen slut.’

His lawyer Mr. Robert Newcombe told the court: “He’s never going to be a teacher again. He’s lost his job and career.

“It was a career he enjoyed and one that gave him satisfaction. He had a lot of responsibility in the role.

“It’s going to be difficult for him to get a job with this conviction. He is a man well-liked by his friends who describe him as reliable and trustworthy.

“He was single and going through a bad patch. His new girlfriend has stood with him.

Going, Going, Gone: McStraw

“They have plans for a family and he hopes he can put this sorry episode behind him.

“In his teaching career there is no allegation he has acted improperly towards children in his care.”

Recorder James Dawson said: “These are actual children being forced or coerced to do these acts and it is done so that people like you can look at them.

“It seems you ended a relationship of eighteen months and were particularly lonely and isolated at the time.”

McStraw was also ordered to complete a 25-day rehabilitation requirement. “That is to address your sexual problems,” the Recorder told him.

He was also made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his internet use, was placed on the sex offenders register and must complete 150 hours community service work.

Xmas Club Treasurer Nicked £15K To Chase £4.5m Nigerian Scam

The treasurer of a social club’s Christmas fund cheated pensioner friends of twenty years out of £15,000 as she chased a bogus £4.5m fortune.

Pamela Dooner, 74, was herself the victim of a Nigeria-based scam and now lives alone, having been kicked-out by her husband and shunned by friends and family.

“This is an extraordinary case of betrayal, greed and gullibility,” Recorder Richard Prior told her. “All this in pursuit of a highly-speculative gain or highly-dubious windfall.”

Dooner, who had been treasurer for a decade at the United Services & Services Rendered Club, Balham, received fourteen months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

“She has destroyed her little community,” probation officer Mervyn Fox told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court. “She cannot believe she has put her community and family through sheer hell.

“The sheer shame has caused her to leave her home and she does not even see her two daughters.”

Dooner, of Hope Street, Sheerness, Kent pleaded guilty to stealing £950 from Sylvia McLeod, 80; £1100 from Audrey Taylor, 82; £3,000 from Sheila Burton, 84; £1,000 from Kathleen Selwood, 80 and £6,000 from Josephine Wilkins, 70.

She also pleaded guilty defrauding Nancy Elliot, 76, out of £3,000 and attempting to defraud Mrs Wilkins out of a further £3,000.

“For you it has been a tragic outcome. You have managed to ruin your own life,” Recorder Prior told her. “You were driven almost by a madness on your part and a lack of care for your club members.”

The offences occurred throughout 2015 and angry club members, seeking justice, attended earlier court hearings.

Mrs Elliot, a carer for her husband who is fighting cancer, told police she was left feeling “angry and bitter” and had been left “broke” by losing her Christmas money, which was her emergency fund.

Another victim was forced to cancel a trip to South Africa to see her family.

Dooner lost her own £12,000 life savings to the fraudsters, who convinced her she would receive 50% of a £9m Citibank account once she paid taxes and fees to release it.

Dooner approached some of her friends in tears, begging for money to pay legal fees to recoup money from the fraudsters, but this was simply the second-leg of the scam.

Her friends told police they felt sorry for her and gave her money from their share of the Christmas fund and their own personal bank accounts.

Prosecutor Miss Rebecca Foulkes told the court Dooner was eventually arrested. “She admitted taking all the money out of the Christmas fund.

“She said things got out of control and that she had lied to her daughter and her husband, who told her to leave.

“It is accepted all the money was sent to Nigeria.”

Her lawyer Mr. James Higbee said: “She has got nothing. She’s in a one-bedroom flat and is isolated.

“She has lost her friends and has received threatening phone calls, threats on facebook and abuse in the street.

“She genuinely believed everyone was going to get their money back with interest.”

No compensation order was made by the court and Dooner must also complete a twenty-day rehabilitation activity requirement.