Ingoldmells: Woman jailed for defrauding couple out of £50k

A woman has been jailed for three years and four months for defrauding a couple out of £50,000.

Karlette Skerman, 45, of Regent Street, Balby, deceived the victims into selling their houses, cars and caravans to help her financially.

She then spent the money on several holidays, gambling, meals and electrical items.

The victims, who saw her as a close friend, met Skerman when they rented her their Ingoldmells caravan in 2018.

Undertaking cleaning work and jobs to help the couple with daily tasks, Skerman led them to believe she herself was owed money and would pay them back.

The fraud came to light following advice from a bank and police were then informed.

Skerman, originally from Ingoldmells and Hogsthorpe, was tracked down in Newquay, Cornwall after fleeing the Skegness area when the fraud was uncovered.

She denied involvement during an interview but was subsequently charged with offences of fraud by false representation, Lincolnshire Police said.

The first day of the case was held at Lincoln Crown Court on 11 December 2023, where Skerman pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud at a value of £50,000. Skerman was sentenced on 1 March.

Before the case came to court, one of the victims died with the surviving victim described by police as having "great courage and dignity".

Sgt Matthew Warwick, investigating officer for Lincolnshire Police, said: "This has been a truly emotive case with significant disruption to the victims' lives.

"I wish the victim well as he rebuilds his life and can start to recover from something that has been desperately sad and life-changing."

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