Mum conned ex out of £34,000 pretending she was ill and even had pal pose as surgeon

A manipulative woman who swindled her ex-boyfriend out of more than £34,000 by pretending she was seriously ill and needed money for life saving treatment, has avoided jail.

Marta Szymanska duped James Andrews into believing she had the brain condition encephalitis, had only a 50-50 chance of survival and even got a male friend to call him on Christmas Day pretending to be a surgeon and asking for private medical fees to be paid for her. During her callous scam spanning two years Szymanska had other men calling Mr Andrews posing as doctors and demanding cash and even claiming she had miscarried a baby.

The 43-year-old mum also sent fake emails pretenting to be from the NHS and the Citizens Advice Bureau to back up her fake stories. Mr Andrews who lives in Chester ended up borrowing money from friends and family and nearly lost his house due to the scam. By the time he learnt Szymanska was in fact physically well, she had squandered all of Mr Andrews' money on wine, spirits and beer.

At Chester Crown Court, Szymanska, who lives in the Blacon area of the city faced four years jail under sentencing guidelines after she admitted 10 charges of fraud by false representation, but was given a 20 month jail term, suspended for 18 months.

Sentencing Judge Steven Everett told her: ''You conned Mr Andrews in a particularly sophisticated and cruel way pretending that you were ill and pretending that there were difficulties. He accepted what was being said and was getting letters purporting to be sent by doctors persuading him to hand money over.

The case was heard at Chester Crown Court (Image:MEN Media)

"Without hesitation he handed the money over and all the money went to you. It is pretty clear nothing is left and I strongly suspect most if it went on alcohol. This was a truly mean offence but I have to take into account everything I have read in the presentence report, the difficult background, the issues with alcohol, the fact that you suffer with depression and anxiety and that you are medicated for that.

''Your anxiety and depression in part arises from your background in life and a difficult childhood - but it is important to understand that this is the one and only time you can rely on that. You accept what you did was wrong and there is some remorse. You have your chance. I suggest you take it.''