An Ipswich woman with a gambling addiction who conned her former husband out of more than £100,000 by pretending the money would go towards the purchase of a house has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Sentencing Lynsey Pennell, Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley said she had spun a “web of lies and deceit” over a period of eight years involving a house sale that didn’t exist and had taken an overdose when the fraud came to light.

“You had a lot of problems with gambling and needed to fund a difficult habit,” said the judge.

She said Pennell’s husband had thought she was suffering from cancer but there was no record of this in her medical records.

 Pennell, 51, of Bennett Road, Ipswich admitted fraud between January 2012 and August 2020 by falsely represented that money transferred to accounts operated by her would be put towards the purchase of a house in their joint names.

She also falsely claimed she purchased a house on Waterfield Road, Ipswich, for £250,000 from a work colleague and used spoof email addresses to send emails pretending they were from other people in relation to the purchase of the house.

She was given a 24 month prison sentence suspended for two years and a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Matthew Kirk, prosecuting, told the court that that the victim of the fraud had transferred £103,000 into a joint account on the understanding it was for the purchase of a house.

He said the fraud was supported by an elaborate set of false representations and emails purporting to relating to the house sale, including a survey and moving arrangements.

Jo Morris for Pennell said her client had no previous convictions and was separated from her husband but didn’t know if they were divorced.

She said she had a number of health problems and was on benefits.

A hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act will take place on September 11.