An estate agent faked a wedding abroad to con family and friends out of thousands of pounds so she could pay off online bingo debts.
Charlotte Blackwell, 31, dreamt up the scam after getting engaged to boyfriend Daniel Thomas following a five-year fling.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that she forged flight and hotel bookings to persuade friends and relatives, including her future mother-in-law, to hand over more than £12,600 for the bogus nuptials overseas.
But she was caught when pal Helen Morse spotted spelling mistakes in travel documents and contacted travel agent TUI directly herself.
TUI confirmed they were fraudulent and police were called.
Blackwell was arrested and immediately confessed, telling officers: ‘I’m sorry, it was to pay off…
