Facing potential imprisonment is a woman who orchestrated a fraudulent scheme, tricking her family by posing as a promising Hollywood actress. The plot was led by her and her mother, Ann Dunlop, aged 69, duping Heather’s brother, David Bunton, 52 years old, into providing financial support meant to aid Heather’s purported rise to stardom.
Other victims of the fraudulent scheme included Heather’s Aunt Jean and Uncle Steve Allen, who also fell prey to deceitful stories. The duo’s elaborate storytelling had Steve convinced that endless champagne flowed in the lavish London house where Heather and Ann resided.
In August of the previous year, a conviction was made against Ann Dunlop in the Glasgow Sheriff Court. She was found guilty of deceiving her family members out of £35,368. Heather, hailing from Kent, later admitted to similar fraudulent charges.
Sheriff Vincent Lunny, overseeing the case, mandated that they repay the misappropriated funds back to the Buntons. The repayment was intended as a condition for imposing a sentence in this case. Heather was questioned directly by the sheriff about the repayment proceedings.
Heather’s response to the sheriff’s inquiry was that she had yet to make any repayments. The discussion moved forward, Heather disclosed that she had a balance of £14,200 in her bank account, which she was willing to refund to the Buntons.
The sheriff highlighted a discrepancy where Heather had informed a social worker, during a recent background check, of her ability to refund £31,500 to the Buntons. However, Heather alluded that the previously available funds, presumably obtained from other family members, were no longer accessible to her.
Sheriff Lunny voiced a stern judgment: ‘You’ve surpassed the custodial threshold by misappropriating £35,000, a sum that qualifies the crime as imprisonable. Unless the evidence of repayment is realistic rather than speculated, then your sentence will be imprisonment.’
In Ann’s case, Sheriff Lunny pondered over an alternative sentencing. This decision would be made after a comprehensive background report is procured. The case is slated to be heard again next month, by which time the £14,200 refund agreed upon by Heather is expected to be paid to the Buntons.
Sheriff Lunny laid out clear terms: ‘Upon reaching the £20,000 refund mark, I can enforce a compensation order and this affair can be resolved within the judicial system. On each of you, the maximum compensation I can impose is £10,000.’
He went on to clarify, ‘If these sums are not paid, I retain the power to retract this provisional order and exercise necessary legal actions.’ The path clear, the family now awaits the next court appearance.
Fraudulent Hollywood Dreams Lands Woman in Court appeared first on Real News Now.
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