A woman who defrauded nine men she met online out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for two years and nine weeks.
Leonnie Robson, aged 35, of Victoria Road, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today (Friday 13 March 2026) after previously admitting seven counts of fraud by false representation.
The court heard how between March 2024 and May 2025, Robson targeted vulnerable male victims via dating websites and social media platforms. In each case she would strike up a relationship with them before fabricating a reason she needed financial assistance.
She told some of the men she had cancer or was fleeing domestic violence and told others she had lost a child or had lost her job and needed a small loan to pay for electricity, gas, food or birthday presents for her children. She would start by asking for £10 or £20 before returning for more. In total the men sent Robson £8,176. None of the money was ever repaid.
The fraud came to the attention of police in December 2024 when the carer of one of Robson’s victims reported concerns the man was sending money to someone he had met online.
Further police investigation uncovered another eight victims.
Most incredibly Robson’s offences were committed while she was on licence, having served a second prison term for fraud.
In personal statements read in court, Robson’s victims told of the long lasting effects of her fraud.
One man who had met Robson on an online dating website said, “I thought I’d finally found love and now to realise it was all a lie, is so hard to process.”
“I want to find someone to share my life with, but I just can’t open myself up to the pain of this happening again”.
Another said, “Losing this money sucks, but the thing that hurts the most is the confirmation I’m not wanted unless I can be taken advantage of.”
“How am I meant to believe and trust people now in the future?”
A third man said, “After becoming a victim of fraud, I removed myself from online dating. This is really hard for someone of my age who is battling with feeling alone.”
“I want to meet someone and have that companionship, but I’m now so scared of being hurt.”
“My confidence has been knocked and where I was willing to meet someone new, I feel that perhaps being alone is a better option.”
Following sentencing PC Sally Anderson, who led the investigation said: “Robson repeatedly identified ways she could emotionally control and manipulate her victims, and all while she was already on licence for defrauding people.”
“Thankfully, because of the courage and bravery of her victims and the strength of their testimonies, Robson was left with no option other than to admit her guilt.”
“Romance fraud is a particularly callous offence because not only do fraudsters inflict financial loss on their victims, they also cause an enormous amount of emotional hurt and pain.”
“We want to encourage all those who think they’ve been a victim of romance fraud to not feel embarrassed or ashamed but rather report it.”
“If you believe that you have been targeted by a romance fraudster, or you believe somebody close to you has been targeted, then please contact Action Fraud so you can begin to get the necessary support and prevent other people from becoming victims.”
“We’d always advise to never send money, share bank details, or invest in crypto based on advice from someone you have only met online, regardless of how convincing their story is.”
@ Norfolk Constabulary
