Latest news with #betrayal
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'Rich Kid of Instagram' handbag swindler exposed as a paedophile: Branded the 'Kardashian of Cheshire', he lived a crime-fuelled millionaire lifestyle. Then a boutique owner brought him down...
Slouching down in the seat of her car, Christine Colbert hid her face beneath a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of oversized sunglasses. Owed tens of thousands of pounds by one-time 'friend' and would-be business partner Jack Watkin, the time had come to spring her carefully planned trap.
The Sun
20 hours ago
- The Sun
Mum was my best friend – until she stole my £50k inheritance and spent it hot tubs and holidays
TENDERLY cradling her two-month-old son, Gemma Thomas is filled with unconditional love. 'I look at his sweet face and I feel so protective towards him,' says Gemma, 26. 7 'I can't ever imagine doing anything that would ever hurt him.' It's an instinct that brings mixed emotions – because becoming a mum herself has made it all the more difficult for Gemma to understand her own mum's despicable actions. Earlier this month, Katherine Hill, 53, was jailed for 30 months for stealing £50,000 from Gemma and her younger sister, Jessica, 22, a nurse. The siblings had been left the money by their maternal grandmother Margaret, who died in her 70s in 2013. Katherine was a trustee of the cash, which was bequeathed on the condition that the girls could access it when they turned 25 or wanted to buy a house. It was only when Gemma asked to receive her share in 2018 in order to put a deposit down that she discovered her own mum had spent every single penny. 'I adored my mother, she was my best friend,' Gemma says. 'The betrayal of what she has done, especially now I am a mother myself, has devastated me. 'It has destroyed our relationship forever, she's never once said sorry. 'Mum was an only child and had a very difficult relationship with her own mother. They clashed and would go months without speaking. 'Mum always told me and Jessica how important it was to her that we were close and had no secrets. I confided in her about absolutely everything - even the first time I had sex as a teenager. 'I felt safe sharing everything with her. I trusted in her love completely.' But Gemma, from Port Talbot, South Wales, says her mum's behaviour changed dramatically when her grandmother died 12 years ago, around the same time she filed for divorce from her father, Christopher Thomas, 54, a train driver. 'Mum and Dad had been together since they were 17,' she says. 'Unwanted burden' 'She soon began to enjoy her freedom, going on dates all the time. At first it was fun having the house to ourselves but then she'd leave us for days on end. I was only 16 and Jessica was 12. I became my sister's surrogate mother. 'I asked Mum to stay at home with us sometimes but being with her boyfriend mattered more. Me and Jessica became like an unwanted burden to her.' Things came to a head when their dad became aware that the girls were being left and they went to live with him instead – an arrangement that exacerbated the tensions. 'She just didn't care if she saw us or not,' Gemma says. 7 7 'The rejection was so painful. It was as if she'd become a completely different person to the mum we'd loved so much. 'I remember at the school prom, everyone's mum was there apart from mine. It was really horrible, lots of people coming up to me asking where she was. 'Then it was Jessica's birthday and she came to see her but said she couldn't stop as she was going out with her boyfriend and his family.' With the divorce almost finalised, the sisters and their dad moved back into the marital home, while Katherine moved in with her boyfriend, Philip Lloyd, a window cleaner, 20 minutes away. 'I remember at court Mum fighting Dad for custody of our family dog, Oscar,' says Gemma. 'But she never fought for custody of us.' Looking back, Gemma recalls conversations with her mum about booking holidays abroad with her partner and a new hot tub she had bought. 'She even had a tummy tuck. 'I remember wondering how on earth she could afford it,' says Gemma. 'She had a job in customer services for Lloyds bank and didn't earn a huge amount. But she had also inherited around £40,000 from our grandmother so we didn't question it.' Then one day Gemma discovered her mum had blocked both of her daughters' phone numbers. 'I couldn't believe it,' she says. 'We had no idea why.' But Gemma needed to get in touch because, now 18 and working for an insurance company, she wanted access to her share of the inheritance to put down as a deposit for a house. 'I called her from my partner's phone because I was blocked,' she says. When she picked up, I said 'It's Gemma' and Mum said 'Who's Gemma?' She was so cold. 'TRUST YOUR TRUSTEES' By Alex Lloyd The lure of having access to money can be too much for some people entrusted with the inheritance of a minor. 'I have seen this happen before – and with hundreds of thousands of pounds,' says Jessica Partridge, head of tax and trusts at Mayo Wynne Baxter. 'Stealing in this way is not only a breach of trust on the civil side of the law, with the intended beneficiaries able to call the money back in, but a criminal matter too.' She advises anyone planning to bequeath money to a minor to be clear of the conditions in their will and think carefully about who will best manage it. 'You need to completely trust your trustees,' she says. 'If you think for a second they could go and spend it, even if they are the child's parent, but there is no one else to do the job, appoint a solicitor. 'If that isn't an option, pick another person you have faith in and be specific to whoever is drafting the will that it must not be discharged to the parents at any stage.' 'I asked her if I could have access to my inheritance early for the deposit on a house. Her voice changed completely and she started spluttering and told me it wasn't my money and that I was too young to buy a house anyway.' 'Too cowardly' Suspicious, Gemma managed to obtain a copy of her grandmother's will from the solicitor, who launched a civil investigation to track the money down. After a few months, the sisters discovered the terrible truth – their entire inheritance was gone. The police were called in and they questioned Katherine about the missing money. She denied stealing it, before outrageously claiming her father, Gerald Hill, 93, had been withdrawing it and putting envelopes through her daughters' letterbox – a story he backed up, saying it was to stop the girls 'harassing' her. The pair went on trial at Swansea Crown Court in April 2024, with Hill refusing to be cross-examined. 'She was too cowardly,' Gemma says. 'I had to stand up and testify against my own mother and she let me do it rather than admit what she had done. 'I was shaking terribly giving evidence, I felt so nervous. I thought: 'What if the jury believe her?'' The jury heard that Hill had been a trustee of the cash, along with her father. Once probate was complete in 2016, she put it into a Barclays Everyday Saver account in their joint names, despite being advised to invest it properly. The account allowed instant access and both she and her dad, who had been divorced from the girls' grandmother, had bank cards for it. 'Mum just sat there shaking her head, looking at me in disgust, as if she was the wronged party and I was the guilty one,' Gemma says. 'I've never felt so betrayed.' Bank statements proved that ten withdrawals drained the account between March 2016 and March 2017, including one for £15,000, others for £10,000 and a single transfer of £2,300 directly into Hill's account. 7 'Greed and spite' The cash withdrawals all took place at a branch just yards from where Hill worked. 'Mum even claimed she'd paid for an operation for our family's boxer dog which Jessica had agreed to, even though Jessica was only 12 at the time,' Gemma says. Hill swore in an affidavit that she had posted the full £50,000 cash through the girls' letterbox in an envelope – but the jury saw through her lies, finding her guilty of fraud by abuse of power. Her father was also convicted of the same crime, but lawyers and the judge stressed he had been a 'stooge'. 'Jess and I held hands and just sobbed when the verdict came back,' says Gemma. It meant so much to be heard and believed. 'Mum showed no emotion whatsoever. I had hoped for some repentance but there was none.' Hill, of Pontedawe, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, while her father, from Swansea, was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months. The judge, Recorder Greg Bull KC, described the defendants as 'thoroughly dishonest people'. He told Hill he was satisfied she was the instigator of the 'scam' who was 'so annoyed that your daughters received more money than you, that you took their inheritance'. 'You did it in greed and spite,' he said, adding she used the money 'as a weapon against your own daughters'. I can't imagine a more cynical breach of trust than this,' he concluded. At a later Proceeds of Crime hearing, earlier this month, it was calculated that the sum stolen would be now worth £65,000 with inflation. Hill was ordered to repay £50,000 within three months or face a further six-month jail time, while her father was ordered to pay £6,000 for his part or face three months inside. The deadline for payment is September and Gemma thinks they may get the money from her grandfather, as the court ensured he had capacity to pay before calculating his share. 'If he has to go to jail, I'll feel bad for him as he was manipulated by his daughter,' she says. Her mum is already out of prison, having been released on a tag part way into her sentence. Gemma does not know whether Hill will cough up or endure a second stint behind bars. 'She claims to have no assets and her boyfriend said she had not invested a penny in his house,' she says. 'But the judge was clear that at least £35,000 had been sunk into it from my mum over the years they have been together. 'She even built a bar in the garden and bought him a pool table. 'The right thing would be remortgaging to pay for it. I can't put into words the pain she has caused us,' Gemma says. 'You think if your mother doesn't love you, who will? 'I think what the judge said was right. She was jealous that we had been left part of what she thought was her money and also upset that we chose to live with dad instead. "It makes me sad that she was happy to put her 93-year-old father on the stand to testify but wouldn't be questioned herself. The poor man couldn't even articulate his words properly. It was pitiful. 'When I look at my son and feel so much love, I wonder how she could do this to her own flesh and blood? 'Her betrayal has left me with major trust issues in my relationships and I have a lot of social anxiety. I've needed counselling to cope with everything.' After all the heartache and lies, Gemma is now completely estranged from her mum and says she will never be allowed to meet her new grandson. She doubts they will ever see a penny of the money owed, the lack of which means both she and Jessica have to rent their homes as the cost of living makes it harder to save a deposit. 'The court case was more about the principle and getting justice than getting the money back, for us. 'Despite everything, Jessica and I are closer than ever and we are so grateful to our amazing dad. We couldn't have got through this without him,' she says. "But I don't think I will ever be able to forgive my mum. If I'm honest, in my heart, I no longer feel like I have a mum.' 7
The Sun
a day ago
- General
- The Sun
You helped me save my marriage after an office affair almost derailed my life
DEAR DEIDRE: THANK you for helping me begin to put my marriage back together after an affair nearly destroyed everything. When I first wrote to you, I was ashamed, heartbroken and terrified of what I'd done. I'd had a year-long affair with a married colleague. It started with flirting and banter at work but quickly became intense and physical. The chemistry between us was undeniable – I felt seen, excited, and alive. But when I told him I was ready to leave my husband, he panicked. He ended things abruptly, then turned cruel. I was devastated. Worse still, he began flaunting a new affair with another colleague from my department, all while threatening to expose me. He said he would tell everyone I was a tart. I felt humiliated, trapped, and stupid for ever trusting him. Despite the betrayal, I kept quiet. I didn't retaliate or tell anyone what had really happened. But the weight of the lie at home became too much to bear. I couldn't look my husband in the eye without feeling like a fraud. So I told him everything. He was crushed. He packed a bag, left our home, and stopped speaking to me. The next time I heard from him, it was via email – he wanted a divorce. That's when I turned to you. You helped me see the truth. That my affair was a dead end. That my colleague's cruel behaviour was about control and deflection – not love. You gave me practical steps to protect myself at work and reassured me that I didn't have to suffer his threats in silence. I spoke to HR, and they supported me more than I ever expected. Spotting the signs your partner is cheating But more than that, you gave me hope that maybe I hadn't ruined my marriage forever. You urged me to try to find a way to reach my husband through a mutual friend if needed, to own my mistakes but also express my desire to rebuild. You reminded me that while healing wouldn't be easy, trust could be earned again with time, effort and honesty. Your support pack Cheating – Can You Get Over It? gave me the tools to begin those conversations, and your recommendation of counselling gave us a way to talk when we couldn't find the words ourselves. It took us a while, but over time our relationship gradually started to strengthen, and now we're in a much better place, slowly rebuilding the trust we lost. We're not pretending it didn't happen, but we're facing it together, with compassion and effort on both sides. Thank you for helping me see the truth and for helping me start to put things right. DEIDRE SAYS: I'm so glad you reached out and shared your story. Affairs are often steeped in shame and secrecy, so it takes real courage to be honest. Acknowledging what happened and facing the consequences head-on is never easy, but it was the vital first step toward healing. As painful as your experience has been, your letter is a powerful reminder that healing is possible, even after deep betrayal. You've shown real strength by facing the consequences of your actions, rather than hiding from them. Rebuilding trust after infidelity is never easy, but by owning your mistakes and choosing honesty, you gave your marriage a fighting chance. Your story proves that while affairs may feel thrilling at the time, they often mask deeper emotional problems and end up hurting the people we care about most. But they don't have to define the rest of your life. With effort, openness and a shared commitment to healing, it is possible to come through the other side stronger. Ask me and my counsellors anything Every problem get a personal and private reply from one of my trained counsellors within one working day. Sally Land is the Dear Deidre Agony Aunt. She achieved a distinction in the Certificate in Humanistic Integrative Counselling, has specialised in relationships and parenting. She has over 20 years of writing and editing women's issues and general features. Passionate about helping people find a way through their challenges, Sally is also a trustee for the charity Family Lives. Her team helps up to 90 people every week. Sally took over as The Sun's Agony Aunt when Deidre Sanders retired from the The Dear Deidre column four years ago. The Dear Deidre Team Of Therapists Also Includes: Kate Taylor: a sex and dating writer who is also training to be a counsellor. Kate is an advisor for dating website OurTime and is the author of five self-help books. Jane Allton: a stalwart of the Dear Deidre for over 20 years. Jane is a trained therapist, who specialises in family issues. She has completed the Basic Counselling Skills Level 1, 2, and 3. She also achieved the Counselling and Psychotherapy (CPCAB) Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Studies. Catherine Thomas: with over two decades worth of experience Catherine has also trained as a therapist, with the same credentials as Jane. She specialises in consumer and relationship issues. Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you. You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at:
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
My husband has run off with my best pal – I've lost everything in one cruel blow… how do I begin rebuilding my life?
DEAR DEIDRE: JUST six months ago, I had what I thought was the perfect life – a loving husband, two children and a best friend I trusted with everything. Now I've lost pretty much all of it in one cruel blow and I have to watch the two people I loved most, apart from my children, move on with each other. I'm 41 and my husband is 43. We'd been married for 12 years and, although things hadn't been perfect, I truly believed we were solid. My best friend — who I've known since we were teenagers — was like family. She came on holidays with us, babysat our kids and confided in me daily. Then, out of nowhere, my husband sat me down and told me he was leaving me. No explanation, just that he wasn't happy. I was left completely blindsided. Only weeks later did I find out the truth. He'd been having an affair with my best friend the entire time. Now he's moved in with her and they're playing happy families while I'm left to process it all alone. He thinks that because she knows our children well, they will be happy to spend time at their new 'home'. But our children are so young, only nine and seven, and are very confused. I'm struggling to keep it together. I feel humiliated, betrayed and utterly heartbroken. I can't understand how they could be so cruel. I would have done anything for either of them. I try to act normal for the kids but inside I feel broken. I can't sleep, I barely eat and I don't know how to start moving forward. I don't even know where to begin rebuilding my life. Dear Deidre: Cheating and can you get over it DEIDRE SAYS: This is a devastating betrayal and it's no wonder you're struggling to make sense of it. When trust is broken so deeply by the two people closest to you, the pain can feel unbearable. Allow yourself time to grieve the end of your marriage and the loss of a friendship you valued deeply. Try to focus on what you can control – looking after yourself and your children – and slowly, over time, you will adjust and start to rebuild. It is positive that you are trying to keep things stable for your children. Putting them first is absolutely the right thing to do. I'm sending you my support pack, Moving On, to help you process what's happened and take steps towards reclaiming your life. GRANDSON'S CHANGED… AND I BLAME COCAINE USE DEAR DEIDRE: MY grandson is destroying his life with cocaine, and I'm terrified I'm going to lose him because of it. He's only 24, smart and kind-hearted, but over the past year he's changed beyond recognition. He's lost weight, become secretive, fallen out with friends and family and he lies constantly. I recently found out from his ex-girlfriend that he's using cocaine heavily and often, but when I gently confronted him, he completely denied it. I'm his 69-year-old grandmother, and I raised him on and off when his parents struggled. We've always had a close bond, and it's heartbreaking to see him like this. I know he needs help, but I don't know how to get through to him. How do you help someone who won't admit they have a problem before it's too late? DEIDRE SAYS: Watching a loved one spiral into addiction is incredibly painful, especially when they refuse to accept help. Your concern is completely valid – addiction thrives in secrecy and denial, and your grandson may not yet realise the impact it's having on his life. Keep the lines of communication open. Let him know you're worried because you care, not because you're judging. Avoid confrontation but be consistent in your concern and support. Reach out to Adfam ( who help families affected by drugs and alcohol. My support pack, Drug Worries?, will also help. DEAR DEIDRE: HAVING decided that she is done caring for my brother who has motor neurone disease, my sister-in-law now expects me and my husband to pick up the pieces. I'm 64, my brother is 67, and of course I want to help. But my sister-in-law dropped this on me without warning, acting like it's a done deal. She's been his primary carer since he was diagnosed a year ago, and I understand how exhausting it must be. My husband and I help out, but we're not in a position to take full responsibility – physically or emotionally. I feel torn between wanting to support my brother and feeling taken for granted. The guilt is eating away at me but so is the resentment. How do I set boundaries and speak up without causing a family fallout – or leaving my brother feeling abandoned? DEIDRE SAYS: It is understandable to feel overwhelmed when caregiving responsibilities suddenly shift without your input. Setting boundaries is essential – for your wellbeing and your brother's care. Have an honest chat with your sister-in-law and husband about what you can realistically manage. Emphasise that you want to support your brother but need a sustainable plan that doesn't fall solely on you. Consider involving a social worker, who can help arrange support. Citizens Advice ( should be able to help you with the legalities. THREATENED BY HER SEX HISTORY DEAR DEIDRE: I HAVE developed 'the ick' for my girlfriend, and I hate myself for it. I'm 27, she's 26 and we've been together for eight months. Everything has been great – she's kind and funny, and we have amazing chemistry. But recently she told me something I can't stop thinking about. She mentioned casually that she slept with one of her male friends a few years ago. They only hooked up once, it didn't go anywhere, and they've stayed friends ever since. I didn't say anything at the time but now I feel weird about it. They still hang out regularly and message often. She swears there's nothing between them and I believe her, but something about it just makes my skin crawl. I don't want to be controlling or insecure, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm second best or competing with someone she has known far longer. I've been off with her lately and she's started to notice. I don't want to ruin a good thing over something that happened before me but it's really getting under my skin. How do I get over this? DEIDRE SAYS: It's understandable that this revelation has unsettled you but remember she was honest, and their friendship has continued platonically. That shows transparency, not deceit. Still, your feelings matter. If the situation makes you uncomfortable, try to explore why. Is it insecurity, fear of comparison, or something else? Talk to her calmly and openly. Focus on how it made you feel, not what she did 'wrong'. This is also a good time to discuss boundaries. Every couple has different lines around exes or past hook-ups, and it's OK to want clarity. Just be careful not to project suspicion where there's no sign of betrayal. I'm sending you my support pack, Dealing With Jealousy, which will help you work through these feelings.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Wife of accused Minnesota lawmaker killer says husband's actions were "a betrayal"
The wife of Vance Boelter, the man accused in the deadly Minnesota lawmaker shootings, released a statement on Thursday calling her husband's alleged actions "a betrayal." Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed inside their Brooklyn Park home in the early morning hours of June 14. Their golden retriever, Gilbert, was also shot and later died from his injuries. Also targeted in the shootings was Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, which occurred inside their Champlin home about 90 minutes before the attack on the Hortmans. Boelter, 57, faces multiple murder and attempted murder charges on the local and federal level. He was captured some 36 hours after the shootings near his home in Green Isle, about 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis, in what officials say was the largest manhunt in state history. Below is Jenny Boelter's full statement, released on her behalf by her legal team: "On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them. We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided. This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian Faith. We are appalled and horrified by what occurred and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of the unfathomable tragedy. From the moment we were first contacted by law enforcement, we have fully cooperated with investigators and responded to their every request. On the morning of June 14, 2025, I received a call from law enforcement and immediately drove to meet agents at a nearby gas station. We were not pulled over; we parked and waited until they arrived. When they did, we voluntarily agreed to meet with them, answer their questions, provide all items they requested, and cooperate with all searches. We are grateful for the diligent and professional efforts of the authorities to fully investigate these crimes. We thank law enforcement for apprehending Vance and protecting others from further harm." The Hortmans and their dog will lie in state at the Minnesota Capitol on Friday, ahead of their private funeral on Saturday morning. WCCO will have live coverage of the funeral starting at 8 a.m., which you can watch via CBS News Minnesota, Pluto TV, YouTube or the CBS News app on your phone or connected TV. This story will be updated.
