Con nightmare
and that they had been there the previous year, too.
“They looked miffed at being asked to leave but gathered their belongings and left.”
The couple’s experience mirrors that of fellow Spanish villa owner Philip Turnbull fromWashington, near Newcastle, who also discovered his flat was being let out to a family that created mayhem.
IT specialist Philip said: “Heather Powell asked us to allow her to give our villa to a couple recovering from cancer.
“I was reluctant but felt sorry for them. A neighbour later told us out our villa was lived in that week by a family and the noise was like World War Three.
“They had a large poodle jumping in and out of our pool.
Joy (left and below with husband Gerry) was shocked to discover their flat had been let out to strangers. JOY is devastated her beloved flat was used as a holiday let behind her back.
She and husband Gerry spent their hard-earned cash buying and furnishing the three-bedroom duplex.
It was their secret bolt hole and a special place where they could spend time as a family with son Lloyd.
“We work hard and spent time and good money furnishing our lovely Spanish home,” Joy said last night.
“We spent as much as we could afford buying furniture we love.
“It has a leather suite and a widescreen TV. Even our bed was expensive.
“It makes me shudder to think that strangers have been living in it, sleeping in our bed and making themselves at home with our personal belongings.”
Looking back, Joy says it now makes sense to her that the villa’s utility bills were proving higher than anticipated.
“The energy bills were high but Heather Powell told us foreign nationals were charged more,” said Joy.
“They were consistently high with no fluctuations so we accepted this.
“I hate to think how much we have paid out for other people’s holidays.”
Joy added that she had been contacted by other apartment owners who feared the same had happened to their homes in Campoverde.
“One told me about Heather’s conviction for theft. It was then we realised we had been conned. I suspect she has raked in thousands.”
“We felt humiliated that we had been lied wormed her way into our affections and to. trust after I went through a painful divorce.
“We now have friends watching our villa “She helped me organise bills but for us. helped herself to my bank account.
“Heather came over as very plausible but “We were so broke at times my son we were duped.” was handing over money from his Powell has a history of dishonesty. paper round to help keep food on the She was jailed for four months in October table. 2004 for stealing £4556 from her best friend, “It took my family years to recover. Kim Lewis. “Nothing would surprise me about
She only spent a night behind bars, that woman. however – spending the rest of her sen“The police said at the time tence doing community work. they had not heard the last of But theher.”experiencedevastatedKim, whoMsaid she’s not surprised at the latest s Powell – who originally villa sub-letting claims. hails from Gwent – did not wish Last night Kim said: “Heather to speak to The Sunday Post
when we contacted her last Kim Lewis, who was conned. week.