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NORTH EDITION roundtownnews.com
Issue 712
7-13 JUNE 2013
Couple cons charities
TWO HEARTLESS “chancers” are accused of riding a Costa Blanca gravy train by pocketing handouts after feeding charities a hard luck story. by Jack Troughton TWO HEARTLESS “chancers” are accused of riding a Costa Blanca gravy train by pocketing handouts after feeding charities a hard luck story. John Williams and Mary Powell allegedly fleeced both the MABS Cancer Support Group and HELP International Benidorm claiming they were penniless and unable to get home. However, they were rumbled in a classic sting operation set up by MABS’ Sue Ruela and her son Ray when he posed as another charity representative willing to help - and were confronted as they poured out their sob story. “I told them they were not welcome in Benidorm and suggested they ply their trade somewhere else,” Sue told RTN. “I said get out of Benidorm because we don’t want their sort here. “I have heard of neither hide nor hair of them since but they could still be here.” And Sue warned people that if they were still in the area the pair would rehearse the same story to get money – but believes once funds dried up, Williams and Powell would move on to another target. She explained the couple came to MABS for help, Williams claiming they had run out of
The sting – John Williams (far right) and Mary Powell (facing camera)
money, were sleeping rough and he suffered prostate cancer and diabetes and was unable to get medication. The pair, who gave addresses in Essex, maintained they had come to Spain because their daughter Katrina was in hospital in a coma after a car accident – but were desperate to get back to the UK because she had been transferred to a hospital in Liverpool. At different times talking to different people, the story changed. They also claimed to have been robbed and were waiting for
money and 53-year-old Williams was scared of flying – ruling out the cheaper option of flying home, although in another version he said they were waiting for money for flights. Sue was able to get medicines and gave the “homeless and desperate” couple 50€ for food. HELP later donated 320€ for a coach ticket back to England and MABS contributed a further 30€ for food during the journey. Sue explained they had to trust Williams and Powell, 54, would take the bus from Alicante
because to book the ticket over the ‘phone incurred a prohibitive administration charge. But days later a lady who was owed money for rent by the pair telephoned Sue to say the couple was still in Benidorm – they had returned to leave the woman a begging letter. It prompted Sue to begin investigating the story further. She rang hospitals only to find there was no record of a Katrina Williams or Katrina Powell – the couple variously claimed to be married or just partners. Continued on page 3