A father who booked a family holiday in Portugal with a bogus travel agent who told people she was terminally ill has spoken of his anger at being duped out of hundreds of pounds.
Dave Huthwaite was hoping to treat his wife and daughter to an inclusive Easter break in the sun after hearing about the discounted holidays offered by Lyne Barlow.
He said friends had enjoyed rock-bottom trips to five-star resorts in Dubai with the fraudster who had set herself up as a small independent travel agent.
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The 51-year-old was sceptical at first, but was persuaded to part with his cash as she appeared legitimate.
Dave, an electrician, said: “I worked with a guy who lived near her and has met her. He has been away with her twice. His five-star holiday cost £500.
“It sounded too good to be true, but he had gone on them.
“I thought she was selling discounted holidays. It included flights, hotels, a drinks package, everything.”
Barlow emailed three different options for hotels so Dave looked at them and picked the one he liked.
He said: “I was going to pay by credit card, but then she asked for bank transfer and I thought that was a bit dodgy but my mate had been away with her so I went ahead.
“It is not something I would normally do but there you go.”
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Dave, who lives in Glasgow, was due to stay at the Jupiter Hotel in Albufeira for seven nights in Easter 2020.
He paid £974 for the break, about half price, but was not sent any booking details, a receipt or flight information.
Holiday makers were led to believe Barlow, who has admitted the fraud, was suffering from a life-threatening illness.
Dave said: “It was on her Facebook page.
“I don’t know if she had shaved her head, but she had a head scarf on, as if she had lost her hair.
“She said: “I am just going back into hospital so I won’t be able to get in touch with people for a while.
“She was suggesting she was having some serious treatment.
“I have got messages from people who she told them she cancer.
“Other ones have said she told them one of the sons had cancer.”
Dave waited patiently for details of his holiday but asked for a refund when Covid restrictions made foreign impossible.
He said: “Covid screwed her over. People were not getting their holidays.
“I don’t know what she was doing with the money, but the cash flow must have stopped because nobody could travel.”
On Monday, Barlow admitted defrauding family, friends, and hundreds of holidaymakers out of significant sums of money.
Barlow, formerly of Stanley, in County Durham, pleaded guilty to several counts of fraud relating to loans, investments, and holiday sales, and a further charge of money laundering when she appeared at Durham Crown Court.
The court heard how defrauded people of their savings before setting up her own travel agency, in which she fraudulently sold holidays, reporting them to be ATOL and ABTA protected.
But many of the holidays were never booked or fully paid for, unbeknown to her customers.
Dave said: “I am raging. It is good she has pleaded guilty. I don’t know if I will get any money back but I hope some people do.
“I have heard some people who have lost £20,000 with her, people who have booked weddings with her. It is unreal.”
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Barlow has been bailed for pre-sentence reports and will return to Durham Crown Court on Monday, December 12.
Detective Sergeant Alan Meehan, of Durham Constabulary’s Economic Fraud Unit, said: “Fraud is an horrendous crime, with such far-reaching consequences for its victims.
“So many people have been affected by her actions, lives have been changed forever and some are still feeling the effects today.
“This is one of the biggest fraud cases Durham Constabulary has ever dealt with and I would like to thank everyone who came forward for their patience and understanding while we carried out a thorough investigation.”
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