Online gamling wedding planner goes to jail

A Huntingdonshire wedding planner who defrauded 19 wedding couples of GBP80,000 to fund her online gambling experiences has paid for her conduct with a two year prison sentence.

Lisa Harrison (34) pleaded guilty to offences of fraudulent trading following a police investigation by a serious crime team which started in December last year and culminated in Harrison’s sentencing this week.

The wedding planner used inducements of low currency rates on US dollars and flight upgrades to secure further payments from her victims totalling GBP 80,107.35.

Her online gambling spree saw her spending GBP 77,933 on online gambling sites that included Paddy Power and William Hill before she eventually admitted to her clients that she had gambled away their money and was closing her business.

Investigating officer Det. Sergeant Iain Moor told local reporters: “This was an extremely distressing case for the 19 couples who lost life savings and had their dream day ruined by Harrison.

“I hope the victims received some comfort in the prison sentence imposed on Harrison, meaning they can now start to re-build their lives.”