A 53-YEAR-OLD woman who trawled through lesbian and gay websites looking for victims for a “cynical and cruel” con in which she claimed to be dying of cancer has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Joann Wood, of Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City, took numerous people into her confidence before fleecing them of their life savings, under the pretence they were paying for life-saving cancer treatment.

Prosecutor David Chrimes, opening the case before sentence at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday, said: “The defendant claimed to be suffering from terminal cancer to gain money from them. Other victims had yarns spun about about investment opportunities.

“They wished to help the defendant when she claimed to be in difficulties and she took advantage of their good nature with her cynical and cruel yarns.”

Wood has been jailed a number of times for dishonesty and most recently for impersonating a police officer.

Wood ripped off her lover Catherine Wheldon of her life savings after the two got together via an internet dating site in 2005.

Within 18 months Wood had conned the victim out of £28,000 savings before convincing her to rack up £25,000 on credit cards - gaining a total of £53,000 under the pretence she needed the money for cancer treatment.

Miss Wheldon, 55, had planned to retire early but has been forced to go back to work. In an impact statement read to the court she said: “I thought the relationship was developing into a meaningful one. I was dealt a severe blow when told she had cancer of the optic nerve.

“I had managed to set myself up for retirement, but have had to remortgage my home and start work again. I don't know what will happen when I cannot work anymore.”

Neighbour Thomas Hastie was conned out of £10,000 after Wood convinced him she could make money investing in gold.

Mr Chrimes said: “She purported to be someone that had knowledge of the gold trade and investment in gold.

“Mr Hastie had been living nearby in Welwyn Garden City and after a chance meeting she said he could make a substantial amount of money for Mr Hastie.

“£10,000 was handed over, but she wasn't an expert in gold and the money taken was not invested.”

Another woman Janice Graham was conned out of £22,000 in another “elaborate yarn”.

Mr Chrimes said: “After meeting over an internet dating site a friendship struck up. She later told her she was suffering from cancer.

“Miss Graham started with a positive bank account, but ended £22,000 in debt as a result of the defendant's fraud against her.

“It was the same cruel and false story of the defendant having cancer which was used to get the money.”

Another woman was conned out of £10,000 and another £3,000, after being fed the same tragic but untrue story from grey-haired Wood.

Wood, originally from around Derbyshire, before moving to Welwyn Garden City to escape her past has 25 previous convictions for dishonesty going back to 1976.

She pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to six counts of fraud by false representation and two of possession of class A drugs. Wood asked for 13 other offences to be taken into consideration including five of fraud by false representation, three taking without consent (twoc), two making off without payment, theft and impersonating a police officer.

Nichola Cafferkey, defending, said central to Wood's offending was a gambling addiction, but conceded she had also been motivated by greed.

Miss Cafferkey said: “She realises she has caused an enormous amount of pain and distress to all those involved, and to her family.

“Over 20 years her life has been characterised by an extensive web of lies. She is filled with self loathing.”

She added: “The reason why these matters were brought to light was an anonymous tip off to Crimestoppers that alerted Derbyshire police to what had been committed.

“Over the last 12 months she has found it increasingly difficult to continue with the web of lies and was personally involved in notifying Crimestoppers and knew they would come knocking on her door.”

Recorder Philip Brook-Smith QC said immediate custody was the only sentence and jailed Wood for a total of four-and-a-half years.

He said: “The despicable behaviour on your part saw you con out of a series of victims of substantial sums of money.

“The methodology was to pretend you were suffering from illness in particular cancer and were in need of money for an operation and such like.

“The victims range from £1,000 to £53,000, accrued by you over a period of time. Your pattern appeared to be to make friendships with victims and then spin your yarns and con them out of money they could ill afford.

“The consequences have been severe. The hallmark of your offending has been breach of trust on the people that would least expect to fall prey to your lies, your friends and neighbours.”

Wood kept her head bowed as she was led past the packed public gallery down from the dock to begin her sentence.