Emma threw a Halloween party like no other. But how could the ghostess with the mostess afford it?
When Emma Hunt from Berwickshire started splashing the cash, friends were surprised.
The office manager worked for a property firm and earned £1800 a month. A good but not excessive salary.
But the 30-something seemingly had the disposable income of a millionaire.
The brunette always had money to burn and was keen to share her fortune with others.
A sports fan, she treated 12 friends to hospitality packages at the Scottish Open golf tournament at £300 a pop.
For two years running, she splashed out on 20 hospitality tickets for Ladies Day at Musselburgh racecourse, setting her back £6360 and £6600 respectively.
It was clear that being friendly with Ms Hunt paid dividends.
Another time, she shelled out on pricey tickets for friends to attend a Six Nation’s rugby match where her home country of Scotland played against England.
When Emma booked time off from her job at McLean properties, she made the most of her annual leave.
One summer, she treated her mum to a five-star all-inclusive holiday to the Caribbean, costing nearly £8000.
When her peers were feeling the pinch of rising inflation and stagnated salaries – Emma continued to splurge.
But where was all her dosh coming from?
‘My cleaning business is booming,’ she’d boast to friends and acquaintances.
Emma claimed to have built up a lucrative company – a venture she somehow juggled alongside her day job.
Still, it wasn’t all work and no play.
Emma enjoyed letting her hair down – and with the nights drawing in, she got to work planning the Halloween costume party of the century.
Determined for it to be a night to remember, she researched venues that had the wow factor.
And Fenton Tower, near Scotland’s East Lothian coastline, ticked all the boxes for her spooktacular event.
The stunning castle – a popular location for film crews – was described as ‘a magnificent, fortified 16th century tower’ and had hosted many high-end weddings.
Fortunately for Emma, money was no object, so she booked the venue – plus a marquee – for her 80 guests.
Soon, the night arrived and Emma dressed to impress.
Green and red lights lit up the exterior of the tower and surrounding trees.
Inside, the castle’s characterful rooms were adorned with fake tombstones, cobwebs and fairy lights, transporting guests to an eerie wonderland.
Money was no object
No doubt, everyone had a great knees-up in the historic venue – exploring the tower’s beautiful Grand Hall and its atmospheric library.
It would be a party that guests would talk about for weeks.
Just as well, as Emma had spent an eye-watering £40,000 on it.
But the office worker’s house of cards was about to come tumbling down.
Her bosses started to smell a rat when a tenant queried some payments.
Instead of paying money to the business – Emma had given the tenant her own bank details.
Launching an investigation, the company uncovered a jaw-dropping level of deceit by an employee they had trusted.
Emma’s lavish lifestyle had been funded by £900,000 of stolen cash.
She’d instructed tenants to pay rent into her own personal bank account.
She’d also asked for deposits when no such payments were needed.
Incredibly, her fraudulent activities had gone undetected for nearly three years.
At first, the 37-year-old denied embezzlement and in time, she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Her prolific spending was laid bare.
As well as her foreign jaunts, she’d spent £23,000 on hotel breaks in Edinburgh, bought a BMW M2, racked up £6730.05 in Louis Vuitton, and paid £91,596 to her brother’s farming business.
The fraudster claimed that one of her bosses, who had died, had allowed her to spend the cash to buy her silence as he’d put up prostitutes in flats.
But the jury rejected this as a lie.
She was found guilty of three charges at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
At sentencing, her defence lawyer said she had been attempting to ‘buy friendships’ and now admitted her crimes.
She was jailed for three years.
As she was led down to the cells Emma mouthed ‘love you’ at her tearful mum.
We imagine the only bash she’ll be throwing this Halloween is a pity party.
Pictures: Shutterstock/Police Scotland