UK judge rules woman faked two pregnancies to deceive ex-partner

October 3, 2026 at 09:07 AM2 min

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A High Court judge ruled that a woman deceived her former partner into believing she had given birth to two children who likely never existed. The man paid the woman around £30,000 over two years and was told the children had been sold for £500. The judge described the conduct as a sustained and elaborate campaign of deceit.

Key Facts

The woman, referred to as Jane, admitted in court that she had lied about the pregnancies and that no children existed.
The man, referred to as John, paid the woman around £30,000 over the course of two years.
The woman told the man the two children had been sold for a combined £500.
Mrs Justice Judd concluded that the factors weighing against the children genuinely existing were very strong.

The Deception

In late 2022, the woman told her partner she was pregnant, sent ultrasound images, and appeared visibly pregnant over time. In May 2023, shortly before the first baby was due, the woman called police alleging assault by the man, leading to his arrest and several months on remand. The woman sent messages and baby photos to the man's stepfather and mother, and at one stage sent voice notes with the sound of a baby crying in the background. She later told the man she was pregnant again with a due date in August 2024, but the couple split before that date.

Court Findings

The woman admitted to the court that she had told a series of elaborate lies and that there were no children. She argued she was menopausal at the time and could not have been pregnant, and bank statements showed she attended a tanning shop on the day she said she had given birth. Mrs Justice Judd concluded the man was the victim of a sustained and elaborate campaign of deceit that also impacted his mother and closest friend. The judge said she was unable to conclude the woman's motive but noted financial fraud was a possibility and that complex mental health problems may have played a part.