Con artist jailed for defrauding five victims

A woman who conned five people out of more than £13,000 – claiming she needed money to pay for cancer treatment – has been jailed.

Joann Wood, who has also gone by the name Kate Zimmerman, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Leicester Crown Court today (Tuesday 20 December).

Sixty-six-year-old Wood committed the offences between November 2018 and May 2020. Each of her victims agreed to lend her money on the belief it would help pay for treatment or on the belief she was intending to buy out a fictitious business partner.

However Wood, of Marwell Close in Leicester, did not have cancer – nor did she own a business or have a business partner. On each occasion she said the money would be repaid in full. Although some money was handed back, a total of sum of £13,450 was found to be outstanding when her actions were reported to police.

Detective Constable Jo Lockton, from the force’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU) was the investigating officer. She said: “Wood is someone prepared to use whatever it takes in order to get money from others, including lying about requiring serious medical treatment.

“Her victims understandably showed great compassion and wanted to help her, believing the lies she told them.

“I’m pleased she’s now serving time in prison, where I hope she can reflect on the severity of her actions and the impact they’ve had on others.”

• Further information about fraud, including the types of fraud and how to make a report, can be found by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/personal-fraud/
• Further information is also available on the Action Fraud website: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/reporting-fraud-and-cyber-crime