Conwoman who stole my identity made life hell, says TV psychic
A FRAUDSTER pretended to be “Britain’s best-loved psychic” and set up an online account to trick people into paying her for readings.
Gemma Badley preyed on vulnerable elderly people desperate to speak to their loved ones through a fake Facebook account in the name of TV star Sally Morgan.
Last night Sally, 65, told how Badley had made her life a “living hell” as she posted pictures of the star’s family on the account.
The TV medium revealed the full campaign of terror inflicted on her by jobless Badley – who, she fears, “wants to actually be me”. Sally said: “It has been horrendous. What she did to me, I would say, is as bad as stalking.
“She basically pretended to be me, and it was frightening as I’ve never even met her.”
Teesside magistrates court heard that 28-year-old Badley stole the TV star’s identity to offer victims £10 Facebook readings before blocking them after they deposited the cash.
When Sally discovered the fraud, she said Badley – previously a superfan – became increasingly sinister. Sally said: “At first I just thought it was just silly, but after a while it became terrifying.
“She had this fake account, and as soon as I put a picture on Facebook, within minutes she would screenshot it and it would be on her account.
“The line was crossed when she would start taking pictures of my family and even my grandchildren.” The star was horrified to discover that some of her oldest and most vulnerable fans were targeted by the conwoman.
Sally said: “I went down my nearest police station for four hours with my solicitor, asking for somebody to do something.”
But the court heard that Cleveland Police chose not to investigate the claims.
The psychic and her business manager were forced to collect details of victims who contacted her and push for Badley to face charges.
On Monday, Badley pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation, which took place between March and August last year in Hartlepool.
Deputy District Judge Neil Hayles asked the probation service to carry out an “alloptions report” ahead of sentencing next Tuesday, granting Badley unconditional bail.
Sally Morgan found fame in 2007 with her show Star Psychic and has written several bestselling books.
She claims to have first seen a ghost aged four, a skill that she says she inherited from her grandmother.