Escort tricked man out of £14K with her wedding lies

An escort fleeced a disabled man out of £14,000 by conning him into believing they were going to get married.
Emma Belcher leaving Leeds Crown Court.Emma Belcher leaving Leeds Crown Court.
Emma Belcher leaving Leeds Crown Court.

Emma Belcher tricked the victim into paying cash into a ‘wedding fund’ which she then kept for herself.

The mother-of-three was in fact in a relationship with another man at the time of the deception and had no intention of marrying.

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Leeds Crown Court heard the victim made contact with Belcher via a website where she was offering “private escort services” under the name of Charlotte.

Andrew Stranex said the victim, aged in his 30s, suffers from cerebral palsy and has mobility problems.

Belcher first met him at his home in January 2016 and continued to see him regularly.

The victim bought Belcher a car after she told him she needed it to do her other job as a mobile hairdresser.

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Mr Stranex continued: “By May 2016 she led the complainant to believe she would marry him.”

Belcher, of The Square, Knottingley, pleaded guilty to fraud.

A probation officer told the court Belcher had carried out the offence as her life was “financially unstable” and she wanted to get out of the sex industry.

Belcher’s barrister, Giles Grant, said she no longer had a partner and was receiving £900 per month in benefits.

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He said Belcher was full of remorse for what she had done and was hoping to return to work as a hairdresser so she can pay compensation to the victim.

Belcher was given an 18 month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £6,000 compensation.

Judge Robert Moore said: “You saw the opportunity to escape your distressed life and took advantage of a man who, because of his own problems, was desperate for affection and love.”