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A notorious wedding scam artist has been sent behind bars for five years.
Dana Twidale admitted 26 counts of fraud after she was caught red-handed conning brides and grooms of their wedding savings.
The 44-year-old, of Newtown Court in east Hull, cheated thousands of pounds from devastated couples, Hull Live reports.
She also tricked a man she met on Tinder into thinking she was the victim of domestic violence and begged him for money to pay for her mum’s funeral.
At Hull Crown Court, prosecuting barrister Dale Brook said: "All of this was entirely false and the claim her mum had died was particularly cunning and abhorrent because her mum was alive and well."
Over ten months, Nigel Wainwright paid Twidale over £42,000 in total leaving him “an emotional and financial wreck”.
The court also heard of the 25 other victims who had their special days ruined by Twidale.
A couple due to be wed paid £2,470 to Twidale to organise their wedding, which included a marquee.
Three days before their big day they discovered the marquee, tables and chairs had not been delivered.
At the time, Twidale had fled away to Benidorm.
Mr Brook said: "The defendant told them that the items would arrive the following day, but nothing did. The defendant stopped answering their calls and messages."
Other victims described how they had the best day of their lives ruined with one couple having to cancel their honeymoon after paying Twidale £620.
They said: "Your wedding day is the biggest day of your life and something you should be able to look forward to.
"I look back and rather thinking of the good things I am constantly reminded what she put us through.”
Twidale appeared at Hull Crown Court on Monday (July 5) where she was sentenced to a total of five years in prison.
In the case of Nigel Wainwright, Judge Bury said: "This was an unpleasant series of representations you made deserving of significant punishment. You have left him an emotional and financial wreck."
Judge Bury added: "It is a minor miracle it seems to me that none of these weddings were completely ruined but it has blighted their days.
“For a bride it is one of the best days of their lives which was badly affected by you."
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