Travel agent who conned passengers escapes jail
A travel agent who conned passengers out of more than £100,000 has escaped jail.
Kathy Ward, the former owner of La Mon Travel Limited in Downpatrick, duped scores of customers, taking cash for dream holidays which never materialised.
Some clients were left stranded at airports and ferry terminals while airlines and cruise companies were also caught up in the fraud.
The 40-year-old, from Tollymore Brae in Newcastle, who was a former air hostess, had denied any all charges before finally admitting her guilt, see previous story.
In court she was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for three years.
Her boyfriend and co-accused, 47-year-old Mark McConkey, also of Tollymore Brae, received a one-year sentence suspended for two years after admitting five counts of fraud by false representation and two of theft.
The court was told Ward was suffering from depression at the time of the thefts and used the money to try and keep her ailing business afloat.
Some £29,000 was lodged with the court which the judge ordered be distributed among the victims.
Judge Stephen Fowler QC told Ward: "Your offending showed a degree of planning and methodology. You breached the trust of your customers in your capacity as a travel agent."
Diane
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