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[webofevil]

Five years for cash con therapist

A counsellor who brainwashed her client into giving her more than £200,000 has been jailed for five years. Mary McCullagh, 59, who was living in Fordingbridge, Hants, told Nicole Anderson she would return the cash once she inherited a fictitious £9m estate. McCullagh, who now lives in Ireland, was found guilty of 12 counts of obtaining money by deception and one of obtaining property by deception.

Judge John Beashel jailed her for a total of five years, telling her she would be released after two and a half years on licence. He said: "You told Miss Anderson you were seriously ill and you were to receive a substantial inheritance. These offences were committed against a vulnerable woman who regarded you as a close and trusted friend. For four years you and your family have enjoyed the life of Riley at your victims' expense. Even when Miss Anderson ran out of money you persuaded her to get a loan to provide you with more funds."

During the trial, Miss Anderson told the jury the therapist had encouraged her to drink as much as she wanted, saying she could have a fatal fit if she stopped. She told the court: "It was fantastic news. Any alcoholic wants to be told that they can drink."

Judge Beashel heard that McCullagh had several previous convictions for fraud and was jailed for a month in 1981.

How many convictions for fraud do you need under your belt, ballpark, before you can't get employment counselling the vulnerable?

Comments

[ex-cornfedpi814.livejournal.com]

That depends how you set yourself up. I would imagine that it's illegal to pass yourself off with qualifications when you do not have them, but it's not illegal to charge people for your opinions.

Man, I should so set myself up as a counsellor.