Telford fraudster's victims to get just £10 back

Tracey Elaine Pascall was jailed for two years in September after admitting 19 dishonesty offences, including stealing the life savings of college friends Wendy and Andrew Petford and forging cheques from her own daughter.

Pascall, 47, formerly of Muxton, Telford, had borrowed money from her friends and told them a fake cancer story when they asked for it back.

The court had been told that the £4,500 Pascall borrowed from the Petfords had been saved for their daughter's wedding.

Pascall had claimed bailiffs were knocking on her door when she borrowed the money.

When the couple asked why it had not been paid back in 27 days as promised, she told them she had lung cancer and they allowed her more time.

Pascall then forged documents from Terry Jones Solicitors in Newport, Barclays and Tesco banks and the Post Office to assure them she would return the money, before she was arrested and questioned by police.

While on bail, the part-time events organiser stole cheques from her daughter, Samantha Harris, to pay for hundreds of pounds of flowers and balloons for a wedding reception at Hawkstone Park, near Market Drayton, and floral tributes for a funeral.

She was jailed for 18 months for each of the five charges relating to the Petfords to run concurrently and six months for the 14 counts relating to her daughter to run consecutively.

Pascall had a criminal record of 13 dishonesty offences dating back to 1990 and had been jailed for 30 months in 2007 for deception after stealing from her father.

Pascall's defence told the court she suffered from depression and had fallen into arrears in her council tax and rent but had pleaded guilty.

In total she stole £4,805, but yesterday Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that she had no way to pay back what she took. The hearing was taking place under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Judge Robin Onions said: "She's got absolutely no assets. Her available amount is £10. If she were to come into any money that was legitimate in the future, that can and should be taken to repay what she took. Unfortunately you can't get blood out of however undeserving a stone."

If she does not pay the money within six months, her sentence will be extended by four days. Pascal was not present at the hearing.