Woman Fined £30,000 for Fabricating Pregnancies

A woman has been found by a High Court judge to have fabricated pregnancies and the existence of two children, engaging in an "extraordinary" and "elaborate campaign of deceit" against her former partner. The man, referred to as John, applied to the Family Court after being informed by the woman, referred to as Jane, that she had sold their two children for a combined £500.

Over a two-year period, the man provided the woman with approximately £30,000, having received messages and photographs he believed showed the children. The court heard that the woman had claimed to be pregnant in late 2022, providing an ultrasound image and appearing visibly pregnant as time progressed. In May 2023, shortly before the first baby was due, she reported to the police that the man had assaulted her. He was subsequently arrested and held in custody for several months, according to the ruling published on Friday by Mrs Justice Judd.

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Following the man's arrest, the woman sent messages to his stepfather stating that a baby had been born and shared photographs. She also reportedly sent voice notes to the man's mother featuring the sound of a baby crying. The woman later informed the man she was pregnant a second time, with a due date in August 2024. However, the couple separated before this date, and she subsequently told the man's mother that this second child had also been born.

Admission of Deception

The woman admitted in court that she had lied about being pregnant both during and after their relationship. She conceded that she had told a series of elaborate falsehoods and that no children actually existed. She stated she was menopausal at the time and could not have been pregnant. Bank statements presented to the court showed she attended a tanning shop on the day she claimed to have given birth, as noted by Mrs Justice Judd.

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In her judgement, Mrs Justice Judd concluded that the evidence against the children's existence was significantly stronger than any evidence supporting it. She described the man as the victim of a "sustained and elaborate campaign of deceit" that also affected his mother and a close friend. The judge added that the behaviour was cruel, causing the man and his mother to believe they had children and grandchildren.

Mrs Justice Judd stated she was unable to determine the woman's motive for her actions. Financial fraud was identified as a possibility, and the judge also suggested that the woman's "complex mental health problems" might have contributed to her behaviour.