Latest news with #PlentyofFish
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Fraud case hears of Catherine O'Brien's 'zero-risk investment' offer in €20k French racehorse
An alleged phantom sale of a French racehorse, pitched as a lucrative investment that was 'too good to be true', is at the centre of a fraud case against a Cork woman. Catherine O'Brien met John Blake on dating site Plenty of Fish, and over time convinced him to invest €20,000 in a thoroughbred stallion called Shakeel. By investing €20,000 in breeding rights in this stallion, investors would make €14,000 per annum from foals or covering rights, she said. 'I promise I won't let you down,' she told Mr Blake in one of many messages between the pair read out to Waterford Circuit Court. She wanted 'ordinary people' to have fun and make money from horses, she said. While there were huge profits, often tax-free, in the industry, they were currently being made by only a few and she said she believed in opening that opportunity to more people. In messages, she told him of her international travel and of buying and selling horses. She also spoke of how much of her time and resources she gave to charities, helping children with additional needs and the poverty stricken in India. She spoke of caring for her elderly uncle and visiting her father's grave. 'You're an angel sent from heaven,' Mr Blake said in one of their many messages when she promised him large, tax-free profits from equine investments she would organise for him. 'I just want ordinary people to see the equine world, enjoy it and benefit from it,' Ms O'Brien said in a message. She claimed that investing breeding rights in the stallion was a "zero-risk investment', with returns of €14,000 for the first three years, with the first return due in just months. Mr Blake said that the investment was too good to be true in messages. But he never got the promised return on investment, prosecuting barrister Conor O'Doherty told Waterford Circuit court, while opening the case for the State. While Mr Blake had little to no knowledge of the bloodstock industry, Ms O'Brien claimed to have a lot of knowledge of the equine industry, Mr O'Doherty said. She said that he could make huge profits by investing in a brood mare to be covered by the thoroughbred stallion Shakeel which he had already invested in. French mare - Lingreville For another €20,000 investment, he could buy a French mare called Lingreville, which had already raced and produced some foals and which she would keep for him for free in her Cork property. Lingreville had been sold to Mr Blake as a brood mare of exceptional pedigree which would be a brilliant investment, Mr O'Doherty told the jury. Mr Blake would also have to pay €984 to transport the mare from France to Ireland to prove ownership, she said, Mr O'Doherty told the court. Ms O'Brien told him she was buying a large volume of mares to try to make the stallion Shakeel - which he had already invested in - a success. Mr Blake was not a man of considerable financial means and €20,000 was a lot of money, particularly after putting in money already for the breeding rights share on the stallion Shakeel, Mr O'Doherty told the court. 'He told her he would have to get a credit union loan,' Mr O'Doherty said. John Blake did hand over €20,000 he got from a credit union loan. But this money was to go to Ms O'Brien directly – not to the agent selling the horse in France – Mr O'Doherty said. Ms O'Brien is accused of deception charges related to John Blake and the purchase, transport and insurance of a French mare called Lingreville. It is alleged that she 'dishonestly by deception' induced Mr Blake to pay €20,000 to purchase the horse – which was not purchased, the State alleges; to pay €1,100 insurance for the mare – which the State said was not paid; and €984 to transport the horse from France to Ireland - which was not transported as alleged. Ms O'Brien, of An Grianan, Ballinroad, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, has pleaded not guilty to the three charges of making gain or causing loss by deception contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Ms O'Brien, aged 47, formerly living in Buttevant, Co Cork, is represented by defence barrister Simon Donagh, BL, instructed by solicitor Ray Kavanagh. The trial, in front of his Honour Judge Eugene O'Kelly and a jury of seven women and five men, continues.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
My entire family was stalked for 6 YEARS after I accidentally sent a one-letter text to a stranger on Plenty of Fish
He continually breached restraining orders despite going to prison LIVING NIGHTMARE My entire family was stalked for 6 YEARS after I accidentally sent a one-letter text to a stranger on Plenty of Fish Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WOMAN says her entire family was stalked for six years after she accidentally accidentally sent a one-letter text to a stranger on a dating app. None of the Sims family, from Wales, ever met Neal Hancock in person, but they have received continual messages, threats and abuse from him. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Neal Hancock, 39, pleaded guilty to charges of stalking in November, 2023 Credit: South Wales Police 4 Kathryn Sims, and daughter Bethan, have both received disturbing messages Credit: Media Wales The terrifying campaign began when Bethan Sims fell asleep whilst leaning on her phone in 2019, and accidentally sent a one letter response to a man on the dating app Plenty of Fish. Thinking Bethan was interested in him, the 39-year-old man then bombarded her with messages, which eventually turned abusive when she did not reply. Bethan then blocked him, but Hancock soon made another account and found her again. This happened a few times, to the point he would even create profiles on other social media channels. And he has continued, even reaching out to Bethan's mother Kathryn, despite Hancock having been convicted for his crimes and put in prison for continually stalking the family. She told WalesOnline: "It's been six years - six years of this nightmare". This is also despite Hancock having been banned from the Sims' family home in Port Talbot, which involves a restraining order he has continued to breach the terms of. Kathryn continued: 'We are genuinely fearful for our lives. "That's what this has come to. "And honestly we don't believe it is being taken anywhere near seriously enough." Laura Whitmore opens up on her Cyber Stalking incident She added: "It never leaves you when you have a stalker.' Hancock, who lives close the Bethan and Kathryn, is expected to be released from prison next month. He has still never spoken to either of them in person, but has sent messages on social media letting them know he is watching them, with proof of where they have been during the day. He even posted their address online. The stalking got so bad that Bethan was too concerned to leave her home, and made an alert to her children's school after she realised he knew about them. The Sims family are not the only people Hancock is recorded to have stalked. A mutual friend let Bethan and Kathryn know about Carl Mallon, who was also stalked for so long by Hancock that he had to leave his job and move house. Speaking about his experience with Hancock, Carl said: 'When I'm out my eyes are everywhere. "It can wreck your life.' Hancock now lives in Neath, and has been sentenced to 48 weeks custody suspended for two years, after he pleaded guilty to stalking charges involving fear of violence in November 2023. He has been tagged and received a five-year restraining order that means he is no allowed to contact or approach any of his victims in anyway. But Kathryn and Bethan want to stricter order for Hancock, who has still contacted them. Bethan explained: "What he did when he got out of jail was break the exclusion zone around us, getting himself recalled back to prison. "Then he came out for a second time and broke the restraining order again. "He is now back in prison for a third time. "I think he's proven he isn't going to listen and that we are in danger." Hancock breached his current restraining order last year, which ended him up in prison for around 11 months, then breached it again six months after being released when he contacted Bethan on social media. Kathryn does not believe enough is being done in response to this man's behaviour: "He's considered such a risk he was under robust MAPPA (multi-agency public protection arrangements) guidelines, essentially meaning everyone working together to keep us safe. "But that isn't worth the paper it's written on." A freedom of information request submitted by the BBC earlier this year revealed despite the UK having had nearly 440,000 cases of stalking between 2020 and 2023, only 1,439 stalking prevention orders were issued by 40 forces. These are part of the Stalking Protection Bill from 2020, which can prohibit activities like entering locations or making contact with victims involved in the early stages of an investigation into alleged stalking. Hancock is reported to have entered one of the exclusion zones, and managed to get "very close" to Kathryn and Bethan before they were alerted. They are worried about how "obsessed" and "fixated" he is. Kathryn sad: "We could have been killed by the time we knew." "We are so fed up. It's affected everything," she added. "It makes you so unwell. I've been hospitalised with the stress of it because we're in such danger from this man.' The two are due back in Swansea Magistrates Court on July 7 to request a more robust restraining order. South Wales Police Inspector, Jared Easton, who is in charge of the case said: "Neal Hancock is clearly a dangerous individual who refuses to learn his lesson and has caused all manner of trauma for his poor victim. "His behaviour towards this victim has been ongoing for several years now. "It is completely unacceptable, and nobody should have to put up with a prolonged campaign like this. "A further application is being made to the court to extend the conditions of the restraining order and should he fail to abide by these conditions, then he will be arrested and taken back to court." 4 Hancock even found Bethan and her son at a restaurant, and followed them through the supermarket Credit: Media Wales
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
My entire family was stalked for 6 YEARS after I accidentally sent a one-letter text to a stranger on Plenty of Fish
A WOMAN says her entire family was stalked for six years after she accidentally accidentally sent a one-letter text to a stranger on a dating app. None of the Sims family, from Wales, ever met Neal Hancock in person, but they have received continual messages, threats and abuse from him. 4 Neal Hancock, 39, pleaded guilty to charges of stalking in November, 2023 Credit: South Wales Police 4 Kathryn Sims, and daughter Bethan, have both received disturbing messages Credit: Media Wales The terrifying campaign began when Bethan Sims fell asleep whilst leaning on her phone in 2019, and accidentally sent a one letter response to a man on the dating app Plenty of Fish. Thinking Bethan was interested in him, the 39-year-old man then bombarded her with Bethan then blocked him, but Hancock soon made another account and found her again. This happened a few times, to the point he would even create profiles on other social media channels. Read More UK News And he has continued, even reaching out to Bethan's mother Kathryn, despite Hancock having been convicted for his crimes and put in prison for continually stalking the family. She told This is also despite Hancock having been banned from the Sims' family home in Port Talbot, which involves a restraining order he has continued to breach the terms of. Kathryn continued: 'We are genuinely fearful for our lives. Most read in The Sun "That's what this has come to. "And honestly we don't believe it is being taken anywhere near seriously enough." Laura Whitmore opens up on her Cyber Stalking incident She added: "It never leaves you when you have a stalker.' Hancock, who lives close the Bethan and Kathryn, is expected to be released from prison next month. He has still never spoken to either of them in person, but has sent messages on social media letting them know he is watching them, with proof of where they have been during the day. He even posted their address online. The stalking got so bad that Bethan was too concerned to leave her home, and made an alert to her children's school after she realised he knew about them. The Sims family are not the only people Hancock is recorded to have stalked. A mutual friend let Bethan and Kathryn know about Carl Mallon, who was also stalked for so long by Hancock that he had to leave his job and move house. Speaking about his experience with Hancock, Carl said: 'When I'm out my eyes are everywhere. "It can wreck your life.' Hancock now lives in Neath, and has been sentenced to 48 weeks custody suspended for two years, after he pleaded guilty to stalking charges involving fear of violence in November 2023. He has been tagged and received a five-year restraining order that means he is no allowed to contact or approach any of his victims in anyway. But Kathryn and Bethan want to stricter order for Hancock, who has still contacted them. Bethan explained: "What he did when he got out of jail was break the exclusion zone around us, getting himself recalled back to prison. "Then he came out for a second time and broke the restraining order again. "He is now back in prison for a third time. "I think he's proven he isn't going to listen and that we are in danger." Hancock breached his current restraining order last year, which ended him up in prison for around 11 months, then breached it again six months after being released when he contacted Bethan on social media. Kathryn does not believe enough is being done in response to this man's behaviour: "He's considered such a risk he was under robust MAPPA (multi-agency public protection arrangements) guidelines, essentially meaning everyone working together to keep us safe. "But that isn't worth the paper it's written on." A freedom of information request submitted by the BBC earlier this year revealed despite the UK having had nearly 440,000 cases of stalking between 2020 and 2023, only 1,439 stalking prevention orders were issued by 40 forces. These are part of the Stalking Protection Bill from 2020, which can prohibit activities like entering locations or making contact with victims involved in the early stages of an investigation into alleged stalking. Hancock is reported to have entered one of the exclusion zones, and managed to get "very close" to Kathryn and Bethan before they were alerted. They are worried about how "obsessed" and "fixated" he is. Kathryn sad: "We could have been killed by the time we knew." "We are so fed up. It's affected everything," she added. "It makes you so unwell. I've been hospitalised with the stress of it because we're in such danger from this man.' The two are due back in Swansea Magistrates Court on July 7 to request a more robust restraining order. South Wales Police Inspector, Jared Easton, who is in charge of the case said: "Neal Hancock is clearly a dangerous individual who refuses to learn his lesson and has caused all manner of trauma for his poor victim. "His behaviour towards this victim has been ongoing for several years now. "It is completely unacceptable, and nobody should have to put up with a prolonged campaign like this. "A further application is being made to the court to extend the conditions of the restraining order and should he fail to abide by these conditions, then he will be arrested and taken back to court." 4 Hancock even found Bethan and her son at a restaurant, and followed them through the supermarket Credit: Media Wales 4 The mother and daughter, from Port Talbort, want to raise awareness about issues of stalking Credit: Media Wales
Wales Online
07-06-2025
- Wales Online
He lied to his girlfriend that his mum had died and he needed thousands of pounds for the funeral
He lied to his girlfriend that his mum had died and he needed thousands of pounds for the funeral Andrew New's mum was very much alive, a court heard 'I gave this person everything I had' (Image: Liverpool Echo ) A fraudster falsely told his girlfriend that his mum was dead so that he could swindle her out of more than £15,000. A court heard Andrew New claimed that he needed cash in order to arrange his mother's funeral, despite his mother being very much alive and well. His ex also transferred him money so that he could purchase Champions League final tickets on the empty promise that he would pay her back. But the "born again Christian", who previously found himself in the dock after scamming a woman who he met on dating website Plenty of Fish, has been spared an immediate prison sentence because his case has taken three years to come to court. Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday that New, 36, had been in a relationship with Sarah Haslam between April and June 2022. During their brief relationship New had made repeated requests for her to transfer money into his bank account, as well as those of a friend and his "Uncle Joe", for a "variety of fabricated reasons". Henry Riding, prosecuting, described how these included having forgotten to take his credit card while filling up his car at a petrol station and a wish to purchase tickets for Liverpool FC's 2022 Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris. Most shockingly, she sent him thousands of pounds so that he could "make funeral arrangements" for his own mum who was alive. New, from Wirrall who now resides in a rehab facility in Motherwell, Scotland, "promised to pay her back in due course, but never did". This led to him pocketing a total of £15,734.65 of Ms Haslam's money in just two-and-a-half months. Article continues below Andrew New promised to pay her back but never did (Image: Liverpool Echo ) Reading her witness statement, Ms Haslam said: "As a result of what happened to me, I'm exhausted both mentally and emotionally. I've told very few people what they did to me three years ago. I say they, because I can't say their name out loud. "This was a person I believed cared deeply for me. I now know I was manipulated by them. I gave this person everything I had. In return, I was controlled and coerced until they broke me. I've lost part of myself. "Three years on, I still live the trauma. I felt like I had ruined my life. A day doesn't go by when I don't feel the hurt, pain and shame for not recognising what was happening to me." Having been arrested in 2022, and pleading guilty during his first appearance before the crown court in August last year, New's case did not proceed to sentence until now due to ongoing proceeding against the two other men whose bank accounts were used as part of the scam. These charges were ultimately dropped against them by the Crown Prosecution Service. The court heard that the defendant has a total of four previous convictions for four offences, including for fraud in 2019. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here Defence barrister Paul Becker, told the court: "The defendant is sorry for what he has done. He did not know, first thing today, that the victim was going to be present. Having heard her victim personal statement, he is utterly ashamed of himself. "This is an unusual case. The delay, in some respects, helps the defendant, because he has been able to rebuild his life. He has moved to Scotland. He has been at a rehab centre for the last year. "He works six days a week helping people. Because he is working, he gets free accommodation. He has been able to move away from this area, from obviously problematic relationships and the addiction he has had. "He has stayed off cocaine. That was the blight of his life. He can only say that it was because of drugs. "He has an unattractive record. He has done his best since he moved away to try to turn his life around. If the defendant goes to jail today, he spends a few months in jail, he comes out on licence and he is back to square one. "Everybody wants Mr New to be rehabilitated, to stay off drugs, to stay away from a situation where he is essentially stealing and to be a working, productive member of society. My submission is that the defendant should be given a chance today." New admitted one count of fraud by false representation and was handed a 21-month imprisonment suspended for 20 months with 180 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days and a 12-month condition of residence. Upon sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall said: "On many occasions you asked her to make transfers, saying that you owed others money or you were paying for items such as petrol, funeral arrangements for your mother, although she was alive and well, and football tickets. "All of these transfers flowed on the basis that you would pay her back. You never did. You had no intention of doing so. "What you did has caused her very significant financial difficulties. She is still now, three years on, repaying monies which you took from her. That has delayed her ability to buy her own home. "You have accepted full responsibility. You had issues with the use of cocaine. You are now residing in a Christian rehabilitation facility. You now identify as a born again Christian. "You work on a charitable basis six days a week, paying for your accommodation. You act as a mentor. You have expressed remorse and shame and want to apologise to your victim. As Mr Becker puts it, you have rebuilt your life. You have tackled, or are in the process of tackling, your addiction, which underlines all of your offending. "The mitigation in your case all flows from one thing. That is the delay in bringing this case to resolution, a delay of around three years. It cannot be said that the delay is attributable to your actions. "That delay means that you can show that you have committed no further offences and allows Mr Becker to identify that you have turned your life around in that three-year period. That is very significant. "This is a case where appropriate punishment could only be achieved by an immediate custodial sentence. However, there is the significant issue in this case, which I am obliged to take into account. That is the fact that the offending is now three years old. Article continues below "Had you been sentenced closer in time to the commission of this offence, I have no doubt that an immediate custodial sentence would have been the only correct disposal. "An immediate custodial sentence would mean a number of months in prison, the removal of your support network and, frankly, has the potential of unpicking the progress that has been made. You have come very close to going to prison today. If all the promises suggested on your behalf are not made out and you return to offending, this sentence will be activated."
Sunday World
05-06-2025
- Sunday World
Romance scam victim reveals how crime gang used image of US actor to steal €50k
"I saw the red flags but he always had a story to explain. I just thought I was in love with him and that he was in love with me.' The scammer used a photo of actor Justin Melnick to draw Alida in Alida tells our reporter Patrick O'Connell what happened when she fell for the scam The victim of a €50,000 romance scam lifts the lid on the inner workings of the ruthless crime gang who targeted her and reveals how her life has been left in ruins by their actions. Alida Kuiken (50) from Cork was convicted of money laundering last week after a court heard she'd allowed her bank account to be used by a scammer who, posing as a US marine and using images stolen from US actor Justin Melnick, targeted her through a dating website. A devout Christian, Alida, in an effort to protect other victims, reveals how: The gang used US actor Justin Melnick's images on a bogus 'Plenty of Fish' dating profile to draw in victims; Having convinced Alida she was in contact with a US marine, they sent her doctored videos of Melnick inside a US army helicopter bolstering their story; After the 'couple' became engaged, the criminals convinced her to send her 'fiancé' cash as he couldn't access his bank accounts during missions in Kuwait, Nigeria and Sweden; They even had her sign up to a fake third-party website for partners of US marines — where lump sums were deposited in her name so she could feel secure in sending him thousands of euro at a time; After draining Alida of her cash, her fiancé, now a sergeant, asked her if one of his 'squad-members' family could move €17,000 through her account — implicating Alida in a criminal conspiracy that led to her conviction. 'I grew up in a household with emotional neglect … unintentional emotional neglect,' a devastated Alida told the Sunday World. 'So, when someone comes along and they give you the attention and affection that you've never had, you're more likely to become a victim. That's what happened to me. It was just nice to get that attention and that's how it started.' Alida tells our reporter Patrick O'Connell what happened when she fell for the scam Alida said she met the scammer on Plenty of Fish in February 2021. 'I am a Christian,' she said, 'and the previous December, I cried out to God to choose for me a person that I would want to share my life with.' Alida said after they started chatting she asked the scammer to do a personality test — the results of which showed he was a match for the kind of person she wanted as a partner. But, she continued, they couldn't meet in person due to his job. 'He said he was a US marine and he was in Kuwait. 'He sent me a video, he said he couldn't talk in it because of echo-location, but it was on a helicopter and he showed me inside the helicopter and then back out to show his face again. For me, it looked very real. There were also pictures of him on Plenty of Fish.' Shaking her head, she continues: 'I found out later the pictures were of the actor Justin Melnick from Seal Team. 'But he portrayed himself to be a Christian and he knew [things] about the marines that I thought you would have to be a marine to know.' Alida said the scammer asked for money for the first time when they were two months into their relationship, saying he needed to buy a mobile phone. News in 90 June 4th 'He said he was on camp and didn't have access to his bank account,' she said. 'After that he signed me up to this marine spouse association. 'It had a separate website where you had to create an account and it looked legitimate with support chat and everything. 'He said he could register me as his spouse because he was a sergeant and that I'd get a lump sum for the first two years and then $4,000 dollars a month after that. 'The lump sum was sitting there when I signed in … money I was entitled to as his fiancé. 'And while that money was sitting there, I felt OK giving him money from my bank account. 'In total, for all kinds of different things, I gave him €50,000.' A year and a half into their relationship, the scammer made the move that would end in Alida being convicted of money laundering. The scammer used a photo of actor Justin Melnick to draw Alida in 'He said he was leading a squad with six men and two women and he asked me to help transfer money from one of the squad's family members to that squad member,' Alida said. 'When the money did come in, I said to him it was suspicious – but he said I should trust him. 'I saw the red flags but he always had a story to explain. I just thought I was in love with him and that he was in love with me.' But Alida was right to question the transaction. Dublin Circuit Court heard the €16,997 transferred into her account on September 27 and 28, 2022 had been stolen from a building firm in an invoice redirect scam. After transferring the money on from her account in Bitcoin at her fiancé's request, Alida's account was frozen. 'They wanted a name of the person I had transferred the money to,' Alida recalled. 'At this point, I still didn't know the business had tried to withdraw the money from the bank. 'That was not information that was shared with me, which I can understand now because they thought I was actively involved in this. 'I still believed he (the scammer) was going to retire that December. I was totally taken in – but, you understand, this didn't happen overnight, he had very gradually built up our relationship.' In February 2024, Alida was contacted by gardai and her home was searched. But, she said, it wasn't until the following July that she realised the full extent of the scam in which she was caught up. 'I went to the garda station in July,' she said, 'and that's when I first heard about the company. 'And it was around that time that contact (with the scammer) ceased. I had emailed to say the gardai had confiscated my passports and documents and he emailed back to say: 'Everything will be fine.' I said: 'No, it won't! How can you say that?' I could end up with a criminal record. I could go to jail. My life is over. 'And that was the end. Contact ended. He was gone.' Sentencing Alida for the crime of money laundering, Judge Orla Crowe said that such a long relationship with a person Alida never met spoke to 'a certain level of naivety'. 'Where she is a victim of the organisation of the theft, she did allow her account to be used in an utterly implausible story,' the judge said. She said that Kuiken was not a young person, but an adult with long life experience. 'She was utterly reckless in relation to her own affairs and thus played a part,' the judge said. Noting that the maximum penalty is 14 years, she imposed a one-year sentence on the 50-year-old but suspended it in full.
