Latest news with #DionneMarieHanna
Sky News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Renowned chef talks about life after being conned out of £300,000 by his own mum
When Graham Hornigold first heard from his mum, he was delighted, full of "excitement and anticipation". He had gone more than 40 years without seeing her, having been in foster care from the age of two and then living with his father and stepmother. So, when she dropped him an email in the middle of the pandemic, it was almost biological instinct that made him reply. If he had realised that in six months, he would be £300,000 in debt, separated from his wife and wishing his mother was someone else, maybe he would have made a different choice. The renowned pastry chef and Masterchef: The Professionals judge unveiled his story in the Netflix documentary Con Mum earlier this year. Since the programme aired, Graham's life has been a whirlwind as he tried to recover emotionally, mentally and financially from the turmoil his mother Dionne Marie Hanna left behind. "I was in bits, a real dark place, all alone. Your friends drop away, your family drops away, and nobody really knows what you're going through," the 50-year-old told Sky News' Money blog. "It's really hard to transmit those feelings because nobody can understand it unless they've really lived through it. "You don't realise until after they have fleeced you or manipulated you beyond your wildest dreams, that you've actually left yourself exposed." 'There's nothing really to say to her - is there?' Hanna presented herself as a wealthy, illegitimate daughter of the sultan of Brunei, initially spoiling Hornigold, and his partner at the time, Heather Kaniuk, with expensive gifts - including a Range Rover and a BMW. She told him that she had just months to live, but as time went on, she began leaving Hornigold and his friends with large bills for hotels, meals and other expenses. Eventually, she disappeared. The Netflix documentary shows her final phone call with Hornigold, in which she claims to be in Malaysia. Hornigold told Money that he has not spoken to her since, and he doesn't wish to. "All I know is what I have seen in the papers, which is that she was taken [arrested] in Singapore," he said. "There is nothing really else to say to her, is there? Thanks for carrying me," he laughed. 'Really, really dark place' The ordeal uprooted Hornigold's life. His marriage broke down as a result, with his ex-wife and son now living in New Zealand. "Coming back to an empty house that no longer has your child or your partner in, or your mum, was really tricky. I had to live there for a year afterwards and then clear it to sell it. That was a really, really dark place," he said. In a bid to clear the £300,000 of debt he had been left with, he gave back the cars and managed "little by little" to pay some of the money back - with around two-thirds already paid off. "Some [of the debt] is still sitting here because obviously you still have increased costs, and rent is higher than your old mortgage, and I live by myself," he said. "But it's not about the money, it's just the emotional damage that's been done." 'My business is suffering' As a top chef and a successful businessman, Hornigold has found comfort in the kitchen and in his companies - the gourmet doughnut brand Longboys, his patisserie Pretty Sweet and his consultancy Smart Patisserie. "My work has definitely kept me busy, but that again is one of those coping mechanisms," Hornigold said. While battling the issues in his personal life, he has also been trying to continue the success of his businesses in a tough economic climate. "Hospitality, like most businesses now, are taking a hit," Hornigold said. "Ingredient costs have gone up because of import taxes, the availability of goods, and the increased cost of living. There is only so much that people are willing to pay for things. "My business is suffering today but I still have a roof over my head, I've still got a family that loves me, and I've still got my reputation. "Hopefully, we can weather the storm." 'Everybody is struggling' Hornigold's positivity is infectious. Despite admitting he has a "challenging" life, he said he "always looks for the light" and wants others facing difficult times to do the same. "I'm from the generation where you just crack on. That's probably why some of the things have come to pass," he said. "I allowed this to happen because of that need for acceptance. "That's why we have to talk about mental health as a whole piece. It's not seen as a weakness any more. You can go out, fully masculine, and still be able to be heard and become healed without any sense of fear or weakness. "I mean, I'm struggling, but everybody is struggling. I still can't complain, though, can I?
South China Morning Post
06-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
Netflix's Con Mum star Dionne Marie Hanna charged in Singapore with fraud
The whereabouts of a suspected con woman featured in a scam documentary were revealed on Saturday, when she was produced in Singapore 's State Courts for fraud charges. Advertisement British national Dionne Marie Hanna, 84, was arrested on March 28, days after a documentary called Con Mum debuted on streaming platform Netflix. It tells the story of how she allegedly tricked her son, leaving him in debt, after reconnecting with him. Hanna appeared in the State Courts via video link. She was lying on a hospital bed, dressed in a striped shirt. An investigating officer was with Hanna, who was unrepresented. She was then handed five counts of fraud by false representation involving three alleged victims. According to the police, Hannah allegedly cheated her victims through promises of investment opportunities and inheritance entitlements. Advertisement The victims were asked to transfer money for legal fees and the opening of overseas bank accounts, and were reportedly promised that they would be reimbursed through Hanna's inheritance.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Singapore charges woman from Netflix's ‘Con Mum' documentary with fraud (VIDEO)
SINGAPORE, April 5 — The alleged fraudster at the centre of Netflix's Con Mum documentary was brought before Singapore's State Courts on Saturday to face charges of fraud. Dionne Marie Hanna, 84, a British national, was arrested on March 28, just days after the documentary aired. It tells the story of how she allegedly swindled her son, leaving him deep in debt, after reconnecting with him. According to Channel News Asia (CNA), Hanna appeared in the State Courts via video link, lying in a hospital bed and wearing a striped shirt, accompanied by an investigating officer. Unrepresented, she faced five fraud charges involving three victims. Police said that Hanna had deceived her victims with promises of investment opportunities and inheritance claims. The victims were instructed to transfer money for legal fees and the opening of overseas bank accounts, with assurances of reimbursement from her inheritance. It was reported that two of the offences allegedly took place in France, where Hanna is accused of deceiving Paiman Supangat between March 3 and 5. She convinced the victim to pay legal fees to open a bank account and to increase his financial contribution. She is also accused of misleading the victim into believing she intended to repay money she borrowed for personal shopping. The court also heard between February 17 and March 10 in Singapore, Hanna allegedly claimed to be from the Brunei royal family was terminally ill with cancer, and that she intended to leave her wealth to Supangat and his son. She is also accused of using her supposed health condition to deceive another victim, Mohamed Syafiq Paiman, on March 10, by expressing her intent to pass on her wealth to him. Additionally, Hanna is suspected of deceiving a third victim, Mohamed Ariffin Mohamed Kawaja Kamaludin, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel between February 13 and 14. She is accused of committing fraud by convincing him she was terminally ill with cancer and expressing her intention to donate S$3 million (RM9.88 million) to Masjid Khalid and S$2 million to Mawar Community Services, an organisation supporting ex-offenders. The charge sheets did not specify the financial losses incurred by the victims. CNA reported that Singapore police confirmed on Friday that Hanna is believed to be involved in at least five cheating cases, with losses exceeding S$200,000. The judge approved the prosecution's request to remand Hanna for a week after her discharge from Tan Tock Seng Hospital, allowing her to be taken for further investigation into similar offences. When asked if she understood, Hanna weakly responded with a 'yes'. Her case is scheduled for mention again on April 11. Singapore police have been receiving victim reports since March 28, after Con Mum aired on Netflix on March 25, revealing Hanna's deception.
