Disturbing images showing a woman engaging in sexual activity with a dog were found when police searched her home.
Leigh Dennis was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (March 6) after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation, and possession of extreme pornographic images. Dennis, who conned a man she met on Facebook dating out of more than £30,000, had her home searched by police who found phone messages from a separate party relating to her receiving money in return for engaging in sexual activity with a dog.
Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, told the court Dennis used social media websites to commit “romance fraud”, conning Colt Candeias out of £33,672 between January and June 2021, and Aaron Carroll out of £1,940 between January and July 2021.
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Ms Smith said that Dennis, 24, began chatting with Mr Candeias, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder and difficulties with communication, on Facebook dating, and later asked him to subscribe to her OnlyFans account. She explained that Dennis began by asking Mr Candeias to send food orders to her address in Wallasey.
She gave a variety of reasons for needing money including for council tax, to buy goods for a friend from Argos, help with rent, or that she was having suicidal thoughts. However, things soon escalated and Dennis received electrical and electronic goods including nine iPhones, items for pets, a new washing machine, money, jewellery, and even convinced him to send sums of money to others.
The then-22-year-old duped Mr Candeias into handing over £5,000 to a man who Dennis had told him was her landlord. Mr Candeias used the inheritance he had received after his mum’s death and the pair never met in real life.
Mr Candeias' bank raised suspicions of fraud and police were later involved. A search was carried out at Dennis’ address, and some of the items bought by Mr Candeias, including the washing machine, were found.
This victim’s phone was searched and numerous Snapchat messages from Dennis requesting money were found. Dennis’ phone was also analysed and showed messages from a separate party relating to her receiving money in return for engaging in sexual activity with a dog, with 11 extreme pornographic images recovered showing her undertaking that activity.
In relation to the second victim, Mr Carroll and Dennis also matched on Facebook dating and he also subscribed to her Only Fans account. Ms Smith said: “Dennis said it would cost £50 to meet up, which Mr Carroll sent. They spoke on WhatsApp to organise the meeting, which didn’t take place, and after Dennis asked for more money so that she could have a threesome.”
Dennis was interviewed on July 22, 2021, and claimed the gifts she received from Mr Candeias were unprompted. She said all nine iPhones were for her as she kept breaking them. She also denied taking advantage of Mr Candeias, and initially said the interactions were “mutually beneficial” but couldn’t explain how, before admitting there was no benefit.
The mother-of-one was interviewed again on November 5, and said she had always intended to meet Mr Candeias, and to pay him back, but denied having any knowledge of Mr Carroll as she said she spoke to lots of people and didn’t remember them all. Andrew McInnes, defending, said Dennis joined various social media channels to date people, but then discovered she could make money through OnlyFans.
Mr McInnes said Dennis originally received gifts and money, but “matters clearly snowballed”.
He said: “She clearly engaged in risk taking behaviour without the thought of consequences for others or herself. She was always likely to be caught, and made no attempt to hide who she was.”
Sentencing, His Honour Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “I accept that there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and as serious as these offences are, you are still a young woman, so nobody is writing you off. It is extremely regrettable that immediate custody will have a harmful effect on your baby, but there is nothing I can do about that, this is a consequence of your actions.”
Dennis, of Palatine Road, Wallasey, was sentenced to 19 months behind bars, and a restraining order barring her from contacting Mr Candeias for five years was implemented.
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