A conwoman pretended she had a critically ill husband to prey on her kind-hearted neighbours to fuel her cocaine habit.
Toni Balmer would knock on her neighbours’ doors to tell them she urgently needed the money to help her husband, who she said was in critical condition, because she was ‘desperate’ for drug money.
The 38-year-old conned the good Samaritans in Sandown, Isle of Wight, out of hundreds of pounds and even walked one of her victims to a cashpoint to make sure she received the money.
Balmer admitted four counts of fraud by false representation, committed between November 7 and 10 last year, at Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court.
She has now been sentenced to a 12-month community order and must pay a combined £380 compensation to her victims.
Prosecutor Serena Edwards previously told the court that Balmer told this story to a man living a few doors from her home on November 7, securing £160 from him in two separate payments of £80.
Three days later, she targeted three more residents.
One woman gave her £40 after being told the fabricated story, but refused a second request.
Toni Balmer, 38, would knock on her neighbours’ doors to tell them she urgently needed the money to help her husband, who she said was in critical condition, because she was ‘desperate’ for drug money
Balmer visited another couple three times, receiving two lots of £70, then £40 – a total of £180 – before they, too, rejected a further plea for cash.
When the truth emerged and Balmer was arrested, she admitted to police she had lied about having a sick husband.
She said she felt ashamed and intended to repay the money.
Magistrates were also told jobless Balmer had previously received a conditional caution for taking her partner’s wallet, and withdrawing money using his bank card without permission.
Nick Muir, defending, said his client had relapsed into drug misuse and had been ‘desperate for money’ to buy cocaine.
‘She intended to pay it back once her Universal Credit came through,’ he said.
Magistrates previously ordered a report covering all sentencing options, including custody, but Balmer has not been jailed.
As part of her sentence, she must take part in 10 rehabilitation days.
