Wedding cake scammer left more than 100 brides devastated after pocketing cash but not providing food
Scores of couples had their big day ruined by Lisa Holt, 41
A WEDDING cake fraudster who scammed more than 100 brides has been jailed for three years.
Scores of couples had their big day ruined by Lisa Holt, 41, who pocketed their cash but failed to provide catering packages, decoration and other services such as DJs and photo booths.
Trading Standards officers received 150 complaints involving a total of £56,000 owed to individuals and other companies by Holt's firm Bake a Cake Catering based at her home in Halesowen, West Mids.
The company later went into liquidation.
Yesterday at Wolverhampton crown court she was jailed for three years for a string of fraud offences and her husband Ryan, 41, was imprisoned for nine months for money laundering.
The sentences were welcomed by bride Sian Evans, who lost £1,000 when she booked a package in March 2014 to cover table decorations, food, a DJ, balloons and decorations for her wedding.
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Sian, of Stourbidge, said: “I know I will never see any of the money again, but I’m relieved it’s all over and justice has been done.
“She got what she deserved and I feel I can finally put it all behind me now.
“It was not just about the money, it was also the feeling of being so badly let down. It was not a nice thing to do to people.”
Mum-of-two Holt claimed: "I'm a victim too" in a whingeing email to the scores of customers she ripped off before the company went bust in August 2015.
She told them: “I have apologised ‘til I’m blue in the face this week and I can’t change it.
“Maybe all the disgruntled people should focus on the downfall of the company a little instead of just me."
Victims included Kirsty Robinson and her fiance Dan McGing, who shelled out £800 for decorations, flowers, centrepieces and a photo booth.
She said she was "heartbroken" by the deceit and had to pay another £600 for replacements so her big day could go ahead.
Another bride conned was breast cancer patient Lisa Elliot, whose wedding was saved by big-hearted locals who raised cash.
Up to 500 people were believed to have been affected by the collapse of Bake A Cake.
A website – Bake A Cake Customers Looking for Alternative Suppliers – attracted 2,000 members, with other traders stepping in to donate cakes for weddings and golden anniversary celebrations.
Dudley Council, which brought the case to court, thanked victims for helping to secure the prosecution.
Cllr Rachel Harris said: “We take cases of fraud incredibly seriously.
“In this case, the offender failed to deliver promises worth thousands of pounds that she knew she could not deliver to hundreds of innocent people.
“Through the company she gained people’s trust and completely let them down at a time when they were planning one of the most special days of their lives.
“Thanks to people coming forward to report these incidents, and the thorough investigation by our trading standards team, these crimes have come to light.”
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