Former Boston-area woman jailed for frauds totalling more than £350,000 against husband and others

Debbie Runnalls, 61, who lived in Swineshead, fabricated stories about a large inheritance and falsely claimed to have a lump on her chest, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

The frauds began when Runnalls diverted more than £220,000 from her husband's electrical company while working as a bookkeeper for the business between 2010 and 2015, the court was told.

Runnalls allowed the company to run up liabilities of £180,000 to HMRC for VAT and PAYE payments. She also made unauthorised expenditures on personal items totalling more than £40,000 from the firm.

Mark Gadsden, prosecuting, said Runnalls was in a position of trust and tried to hide the fraud by making false entries onto the SAGE accounting system and producing fake bank statements.

Discovery of the fraud by HMRC led to the collapse of her husband's company and their marriage, and left Mr Runnalls with outstanding liabilities.

Following the couple's divorce, Runnalls also defrauded a number of friends and work colleagues, the court was told.

Mr Gadsden explained: “She fabricated elaborate and emotionally manipulative stories, preying on their individual weaknesses.”

Among Runnalls' victims was a long-standing friend who agreed to lend her £13,000 in May 2018 to buy a new home in Station Road, Swineshead, following her divorce, the court was told.

Runnalls' new partner was also persuaded to hand over £40,000 after being told she was due a substantial inheritance, Mr Gadsden said.

Reading out his own victim impact statement in court, the partner described how Runnalls used systematic manipulation over a three-year period to make him believe she was getting a multi-million pound inheritance from a deceased godfather in France.

“In fact, her godfather was alive and still living in Lincolnshire,” he said

A further statement was also read out from another victim who said she regarded herself as Runnalls’ best friend. She described how Runnalls claimed to have a lump on her chest.

Runnalls, now of Eaton Court, Northwich, Cheshire, admitted 12 fraud charges over a 13-year period.

Nick Bleaney, in mitigation, said the root cause of Runnalls offending lay in her gambling habit.

“It is important to note there is not somewhere stashed away a yacht or a house,” Mr Bleaney stressed.

Mr Bleaney said Runnalls accepted that some of the money went on decorating, clothes, shoes and handbags.

The court was told Runnalls was now in work after moving elsewhere and was genuine in her desire to build on the limited repayments she had already made.

Passing sentence, Judge James House KC said the frauds had impacted 11 direct victims and countless others, leaving all with a sense of betrayal.

“No one in this case is to blame, save the defendant,” Judge House insisted.

Judge House said the total value of the frauds was more than £353,000 and told Runnalls she had used emotional manipulation on her victims.

“There were reports of ill health, cancer, that were untrue,” Judge House stressed.

Speaking after the case, Det Con Adam Brown, of Lincolnshire Police, who investigated the case, said: “People trusted Runnalls and she ruthlessly abused that trust for her own personal gain.

“The victims in this case have been honest and brave, in contrast to Runnalls' deception and cowardice. We hope that the result today brings them some sense of closure and of justice having been served.

“I would like to thank those victims for their unwavering support and cooperation throughout the investigation.

“While there are individuals like Runnalls, we sadly have to warn people about being cautious with who they trust, especially if they are asking for money. If you have been a victim of fraud, please don’t hesitate to seek support and report it.”