A married businesswoman who tried to wreak revenge on a former lover by forging documents when she sued him has been spared jail.
After Julie Dadson was dumped by the man with whom she had an affair, she claimed he owed her thousands for using her lock up for his own things.
When the 55-year-old took him to court she produced what she claimed were a contract between them which proved he had agreed to pay her.
Not only did the judge see through her lies but the police were called in and the boss of Heart’s Desire, in Marlborough, was charged with perverting the course of justice.
Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the defendant and the victim had been in a relationship three years prior to the incident.
“Mrs Dadson had difficulty accepting the end of that relationship. A restraining order for 18 months was put in place. That is due to expire in March this year,” she said.
“There was then the claim by Mrs Dadson that he owed her money, a significant amount, £2,597.57p, she claimed in the county court.
“She produced a forged letter allegedly written by John Green, the director of the company from whom she rented storage.”
Miss Hingston said she noted from the pre-sentence report that the defendant accepted that there were two letters which she faked for the hearing last March.
Despite the bogus paperwork being handed to the judge to back up her claim she lost the case and was ordered to pay £90 costs, the court was told.
Dadson, of Hurricane Road, Bowerhill, Melksham, admitted perverting the course of justice.
Mike Pulsford, defending, said that among a number of health complaints his client believed she suffered post traumatic stress disorder following a car crash.
He said she suffers from ‘severe hypertension’, is undergoing tests for an irregular heartbeat and has been diagnosed with diabetes.
Although there was clearly nothing in writing he said she believed there had been a contract between them for him to sublet some of her storage facility.
He said that while she is currently on a suspended sentence it was imposed after the county court case, so she is not in breach of it.
Mr Pulsford said that her husband was standing by her and pointed out that all her offending had taken place later in life and related to the same man.
Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said “It does seem to me that there is a sound basis to indicate that you have come to your senses.
“It also seems to me that any history that there was with him is history now and that seems to be over and I hope it is. I also take into account the difficulties you have with your health.”
He imposed an eight month jail term suspended for 18 months with 175 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.