Fraudster who swindled man out of £708k is jailed

Carla Holman showed no remorse for her crimes, police said

A fraudster who swindled a man out of £708,000 has been jailed for seven years and 10 months.

Carla Holman told the victim she needed help paying for a nursing degree, travel expenses and renting a flat between 2014 and 2018, Essex Police said.

She failed to attend her trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, where jurors found her guilty of three fraud offences in her absence.

The 48-year-old, of Frinton Road, Holland-on-Sea, was then arrested in Bournemouth on Monday and was sentenced earlier.

Holman told the victim he would be repaid with money she was expecting to receive from a terminally ill relative.

However, detectives found no evidence she inherited any cash.

Det Con Paula Doyle described the investigation as "complex".

"The victim in this case has shown great courage in reporting what had happened, and I want to pay tribute to them for doing so," she said.

"Carla Holman has showed no remorse for her actions, has never taken any responsibility for what she has done and has continued to lie about the character of her victim."