A woman from Scotland, Angela Newlands, was recently involved in a series of fraudulent activities where she pretended to have a baby in order to deceive elderly and vulnerable men into giving her money. In addition to this, she also stole eight puppies and discarded most of them over a fence. Newlands engaged in various thefts and frauds, conning multiple victims into providing her with money for a baby that did not exist and using stolen bank cards to take hundreds of pounds.
Newlands targeted individuals as old as 85 by feigning interest in relationships with them. She even stole from a volunteer at a Royal British Legion food bank. In some instances, she pretended to be injured to manipulate people into driving her around, only to rob them and use their bank cards. The extent of her deceit was revealed in court, where it was detailed how she approached individuals like Matthew Hume, David Smeaton, and Edward Milne, among others, under false pretenses to obtain money.
Furthermore, Newlands went by different names like Sophia Taylor to deceive a 74-year-old man named George Watt into allowing her into his home. She managed to steal his bank card and use it for purchases while he unwittingly drove her around. Despite being confronted about the missing money, she continued her deceitful behavior and exploited the kindness of those who tried to help her.
In December 2023, Newlands was involved in a string of offenses in Forfar and Kirriemuir, resulting in her admitting to 17 separate crimes. Her actions, fueled by substance misuse and an abusive relationship, led her to engage in a spree of thefts and frauds. Even though she expressed remorse and took responsibility for her actions, the court decided to keep her in custody as they deliberated on the appropriate punishment for her crimes.
It’s important to note that Newlands was previously acquitted of the murder of her ex-boyfriend’s sister, Annalise Johnstone, whose body was found at the Maggie Wall’s Witch Monument in Dunning, Perthshire. Despite the lack of evidence to convict her, Newlands’ involvement in this high-profile case added to the complexity of her criminal history.
As the investigation into Newlands’ activities continues, it serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of engaging in fraudulent behavior and exploiting the goodwill of others. The impact of her actions on the victims involved underscores the importance of remaining vigilant and skeptical of individuals who may seek to deceive for personal gain.
