A serial fraudster, Carla Evans, 34, from Fishponds, Bristol, has avoided prison after deceiving a vulnerable woman during a family court dispute by posing as a solicitor. Evans offered her services for free but later requested money, ultimately scamming the victim out of approximately £1,500.
In a court hearing at Bristol Crown Court, Evans admitted to two counts of fraud by false representation and received a nine-month suspended sentence. This case adds to her criminal history, which includes a 2019 conviction in South Wales for defrauding a charity by claiming she had terminal cancer to fund a wedding.
The court revealed that Evans had meticulously crafted her scam by drafting letters on official law firm paper and taking statements from family members, leading the victim to believe there were court dates set for her case. The victim, who was struggling financially, borrowed money to pay Evans, only to later discover the scam when she researched Evans’s background.
In a separate incident, Evans scammed another woman out of £160 for Christmas gifts advertised on Facebook Marketplace, but failed to deliver the items, providing various excuses instead.
Judge William Hart ordered Evans to complete 20 rehabilitation days and pay a total of £2,044 in compensation to her victims, highlighting the need for accountability in fraud cases.