A Southampton student gave a drug addict almost £5,000 because she pretended to have cancer, a court has heard.

Chloe Sherwood, 30, bumped into the University of Southampton international student in Portswood and asked her for money to help her replace stolen bedding.

The £50 bank transfer was the beginning of Sherwood's con, which saw her send a flurry of emails asking for money and plead for cash to pay for travel to have non-existent cancer treatment.

At its peak, the student was sending payments of £500.

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Judge Peter Henry jailed Sherwood, of Portswood Road, for eight months.

Speaking to Sherwood, who wore a chequered black and white dress and who wept as the sentence was read out, he said: "You bombarded her with emails and messages until she gave in and eventually you conned £4,600 out of her."

The pair first met in February last year and Sherwood convinced her victim to hand over her details.

Prosecuting, Casey Chard said Sherwood lied that she was having chemotherapy and needed £60 for transport to Southampton General Hospital, which the student gave. Later that day, Sherwood requested another £100.

Despite promising to repay the student, Sherwood never did.

Instead the emails began - and between February and March 2023, Sherwood’s demands escalated and the payments grew, leaving the student £4,880 out of pocket.

The deception only came to light when the victim sought help from the university’s wellbeing department.

The court heard that following these offences, the victim was diagnosed with clinical depression, Mr Chard added.

On April 15, Sherwood was given a chance to improve her behaviour before being sentenced - but stopped going to probation sessions.

"She is a woman who is trying"

Defending, Lucy Conroy said Sherwood had struggled for a long time with drug addiction but added that “in her own words she is clean for the first time in 11 years".

She said Sherwood is “exceptionally remorseful” and is now “stable on methadone script” and feels “exceptionally positive”.

Despite not attending the appointments she was told to, Ms Conroy said: “The point I am trying to make is she is a woman who is trying.”

Adding: “She is asking for a final chance so she can prove to your honour and to herself that she can do this.”

However, Judge Henry said: “A custodial sentence is rightly deserved.”

Sherwood was sentenced to eight months in prison, and a restraining order was issued, preventing her from contacting the victim directly or indirectly for five years.

University explains how it helps students affected by fraud

In the wake of the sentencing, the University of Southampton explained how it helps students who are victims of fraud.

A spokesperson for the University of Southampton said: “We prioritise any case where a student has been the victim of an alleged scam or fraudulent, illegal activity.

"We provide appropriate support, including access to specialist support or treatment where required, as we understand the serious impact this type of crime can have.

“In addition to direct support for victims, we work closely with the police to take proactive steps to make students aware of common scams, how to report them, and where to seek support.

"We help our students to identify if they are being targeted by a scam and what to do if this happens, as well as help our staff to spot those at risk.”