Model Gemma Kingsley has been sentenced today after she pleaded guilty to a string of offences at Swindon Crown Court in February and has been in custody since her plea
Ex catwalk model Gemma Kingsley has been sentenced has been sentenced to prison today, after she pleaded guilty to a string of romance fraud offences last month.
Model turned romance fraudster Gemma Kingsley, 50, has been jailed at Swindon Crown Court for seven years and seven months. The model, who conned men out of tens of thousands of pounds to fund her lavish lifestyle, has been held on remand in custody since she pleaded guilty to more than a dozen theft and fraud offences in February. Kingsley, from Beadnell in Northumberland, tricked men into romantic relationships with her and told them she was set to inherit a large fortune before persuading them to spend huge sums of cash on her behalf.
The 50 year old convinced men to splash out on a wedding that never happened as well as putting deposits on a Porsche and Land Rover. Gemma wove a “web of life” with several victims, Wiltshire Police said in February. At the time, Kingsley pleaded guilty of six counts of theft, four counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of using a false instrument with intent that it will be accepted as genuine and one count of being in possession of an article for use in fraud.
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Wiltshire Police received a report in 2019 that Kingsley had fraudulently used the bank details of her mother’s friend to fund a stay at Cromhall Farm near Chippenham. An investigation was subsequently launched while a number of other police forces were also passed to Wiltshire Police, including significant cases of romance fraud dating back to 2016.
The investigation found that between January 2016 and 2018 Kingsley was in a relationship with the victim, during which she claimed she was set to inherit a large fortune, which saw her produce forged letters as proof. This saw the victim spend tens of thousands of pounds on furniture for a new home, dental bills, her debts and a payment for a wedding which didn’t happen on the assumption he would soon be reimbursed through the inheritance.
Kingsley also repeatedly used the victim’s bank cards to steal money and opened a betting account in his name and lost a large amount of money through gambling. The relationship broke down in 2018 and the following year Kingsley started a relationship with another victim, misleading him into believing she was set to inherit a large fortune.
During this relationship, the second victim helped her with significant deposits for a Land Rover and a Porsche and expensive hotel stays. The victim incurred large debts due to the use of his bank cards.
Kingsley then had two brief relationships in autumn 2019, in which she used the victims’ personal and company bank cards without their knowledge. Wiltshire Police’s investigation also found that Kingsley had committed theft and fraud against numerous other victims, including solicitor’s firms, lawyers and a bank, by falsifying documents and letters.
DC Melissa Pope, from Wiltshire Police’s Fraud team, said: “Kingsley wove a web of lies with her victims, causing significant emotional anxiety and long-term mental and financial harm.” She added: “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.
“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.” The statement continued: “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,” 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 experience.
“I want to highlight that for romance fraud cases like Kingsley’s, while there are significant financial losses, it is often the emotional impact on the victims that has a more lasting impact,” she continued. “It is a huge breach of trust and self-esteem which can take years to recover from.
“If you suspect that you have been caught in a romance scam, please recognise that you are a victim and there is no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed.” She then urged: “Please report it to the police or Report Fraud and keep a record of your interactions and documentation.”
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