A woman who pretended to be pregnant to con a couple in a £10,000 surrogacy scam has walked free from court.
Louise Kimmet lied to Gordon and Susan Kennedy leading to them handing over cash.
The 32-year-old, of Glasgow’s Cranhill, met the Kennedys via an online surrogacy forum.
Kimmet advertised her services as a surrogate to “help a family” and befriended the Kennedys.
Kimmet and the Kennedys settled on a fee of £10,000 for her to provide surrogate services.
But, she received an initial £1,000 for “ongoing expenses.”
Kimmet – who initially believed she was pregnant – pretended to be after being aware that she had sent a picture of a false positive test.
She also claimed that she was experiencing symptoms of pregnancy and was attending hospital appointments.
Kimmet also sent a picture of a false ultrasound and an image of a baby bump which raised suspicions after a five-week alleged pregnancy.
Kimmet – a first offender – pled guilty to the single charge of fraud at Glasgow Sheriff Court spanning between November 2020 and March 2021.
The court heard that Mrs Kennedy responded to an advert on an online surrogacy site in August 2020.
The advert was posted under the name Lou M Graham who offered a surrogate service to “help a family.”
Mrs Kennedy and Kimmet spoke online and met face to face, establishing a “strong friendship.”
Prosecutor Gemma Barclay said:…
