Latest news with #MariaWilliams
The Advertiser
04-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Money can't get bail for accused 'spiritual' fraudster
A "spiritual cleanser" who allegedly left a trail of defrauded victims in her wake has been denied bail once more despite offering more money as security. Maria Williams has been described as "unscrupulous and predatory" in court documents after allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims of her "psychic" services. The 49-year-old, her husband Larry Williams, 50, and sister Tina Montana, 48, have been arrested and charged over the scheme. Clients would offer envelopes of cash to be "blessed" or remove curses. While smaller initial amounts would be returned to build trust, the alleged fraudsters would ask for more and more cash eventually disappearing with the money, court documents say. Maria Williams was first denied bail in the NSW Supreme Court in February. She made a second bid for freedom on Friday which was shot down by Justice Julia Lonergan. This was despite claims by defence lawyer Feddy Kak that an increase in surety from $10,000 to $50,000 and further delays in her case warranted bail. Justice Lonergan found nothing significant had changed since February and there was no reason to grant bail this time. Three arrest warrants have been put out for other members of the family who have fled overseas, court documents say. A "hidden camera undercover sting" by current affairs program Today Tonight in 2005 showed the 49-year-old and her mother-in-law soliciting funds to be blessed. Williams left the country soon after that report, only to return in 2013, court documents reveal. She is accused of defrauding around $420,000 from three clients going back to 2003 and using a fake name to rent a property in Sydney's southwest before absconding without paying. One alleged victim was told funds from selling her home would have to be cleansed before using it to repay family and friends to prevent transferring "bad spirits". With no job and relying solely on defrauded funds to survive, Williams used multiple aliases and was arrested at Sydney International Airport in August with a one-way ticket to the United Kingdom, court documents allege. She is accused of stealing funds from victims in Victoria before fleeing with her husband to Queensland and then moving to Sydney where they were both arrested. "All of the conduct is unscrupulous and predatory on individuals who are vulnerable," crown prosecutors submitted while opposing bail in February. Deeds of release were often used to give alleged victims a belief they would get their money returned to prevent them going to police, prosecutors allege. Williams has not made pleas to one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, one count of obtaining money or valuables by deception and two counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. She has previously been convicted and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order for defrauding another victim of over $41,000 in 2018. In that case, she advertised herself as a "master psychic". "Specialising in tarot card readings, remover of all evilness, palm and numerology reading, superior spiritual healer and advisor," a brochure put into the victim's mailbox read. She will be back in court with her husband on July 30. A "spiritual cleanser" who allegedly left a trail of defrauded victims in her wake has been denied bail once more despite offering more money as security. Maria Williams has been described as "unscrupulous and predatory" in court documents after allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims of her "psychic" services. The 49-year-old, her husband Larry Williams, 50, and sister Tina Montana, 48, have been arrested and charged over the scheme. Clients would offer envelopes of cash to be "blessed" or remove curses. While smaller initial amounts would be returned to build trust, the alleged fraudsters would ask for more and more cash eventually disappearing with the money, court documents say. Maria Williams was first denied bail in the NSW Supreme Court in February. She made a second bid for freedom on Friday which was shot down by Justice Julia Lonergan. This was despite claims by defence lawyer Feddy Kak that an increase in surety from $10,000 to $50,000 and further delays in her case warranted bail. Justice Lonergan found nothing significant had changed since February and there was no reason to grant bail this time. Three arrest warrants have been put out for other members of the family who have fled overseas, court documents say. A "hidden camera undercover sting" by current affairs program Today Tonight in 2005 showed the 49-year-old and her mother-in-law soliciting funds to be blessed. Williams left the country soon after that report, only to return in 2013, court documents reveal. She is accused of defrauding around $420,000 from three clients going back to 2003 and using a fake name to rent a property in Sydney's southwest before absconding without paying. One alleged victim was told funds from selling her home would have to be cleansed before using it to repay family and friends to prevent transferring "bad spirits". With no job and relying solely on defrauded funds to survive, Williams used multiple aliases and was arrested at Sydney International Airport in August with a one-way ticket to the United Kingdom, court documents allege. She is accused of stealing funds from victims in Victoria before fleeing with her husband to Queensland and then moving to Sydney where they were both arrested. "All of the conduct is unscrupulous and predatory on individuals who are vulnerable," crown prosecutors submitted while opposing bail in February. Deeds of release were often used to give alleged victims a belief they would get their money returned to prevent them going to police, prosecutors allege. Williams has not made pleas to one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, one count of obtaining money or valuables by deception and two counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. She has previously been convicted and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order for defrauding another victim of over $41,000 in 2018. In that case, she advertised herself as a "master psychic". "Specialising in tarot card readings, remover of all evilness, palm and numerology reading, superior spiritual healer and advisor," a brochure put into the victim's mailbox read. She will be back in court with her husband on July 30. A "spiritual cleanser" who allegedly left a trail of defrauded victims in her wake has been denied bail once more despite offering more money as security. Maria Williams has been described as "unscrupulous and predatory" in court documents after allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims of her "psychic" services. The 49-year-old, her husband Larry Williams, 50, and sister Tina Montana, 48, have been arrested and charged over the scheme. Clients would offer envelopes of cash to be "blessed" or remove curses. While smaller initial amounts would be returned to build trust, the alleged fraudsters would ask for more and more cash eventually disappearing with the money, court documents say. Maria Williams was first denied bail in the NSW Supreme Court in February. She made a second bid for freedom on Friday which was shot down by Justice Julia Lonergan. This was despite claims by defence lawyer Feddy Kak that an increase in surety from $10,000 to $50,000 and further delays in her case warranted bail. Justice Lonergan found nothing significant had changed since February and there was no reason to grant bail this time. Three arrest warrants have been put out for other members of the family who have fled overseas, court documents say. A "hidden camera undercover sting" by current affairs program Today Tonight in 2005 showed the 49-year-old and her mother-in-law soliciting funds to be blessed. Williams left the country soon after that report, only to return in 2013, court documents reveal. She is accused of defrauding around $420,000 from three clients going back to 2003 and using a fake name to rent a property in Sydney's southwest before absconding without paying. One alleged victim was told funds from selling her home would have to be cleansed before using it to repay family and friends to prevent transferring "bad spirits". With no job and relying solely on defrauded funds to survive, Williams used multiple aliases and was arrested at Sydney International Airport in August with a one-way ticket to the United Kingdom, court documents allege. She is accused of stealing funds from victims in Victoria before fleeing with her husband to Queensland and then moving to Sydney where they were both arrested. "All of the conduct is unscrupulous and predatory on individuals who are vulnerable," crown prosecutors submitted while opposing bail in February. Deeds of release were often used to give alleged victims a belief they would get their money returned to prevent them going to police, prosecutors allege. Williams has not made pleas to one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, one count of obtaining money or valuables by deception and two counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. She has previously been convicted and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order for defrauding another victim of over $41,000 in 2018. In that case, she advertised herself as a "master psychic". "Specialising in tarot card readings, remover of all evilness, palm and numerology reading, superior spiritual healer and advisor," a brochure put into the victim's mailbox read. She will be back in court with her husband on July 30. A "spiritual cleanser" who allegedly left a trail of defrauded victims in her wake has been denied bail once more despite offering more money as security. Maria Williams has been described as "unscrupulous and predatory" in court documents after allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims of her "psychic" services. The 49-year-old, her husband Larry Williams, 50, and sister Tina Montana, 48, have been arrested and charged over the scheme. Clients would offer envelopes of cash to be "blessed" or remove curses. While smaller initial amounts would be returned to build trust, the alleged fraudsters would ask for more and more cash eventually disappearing with the money, court documents say. Maria Williams was first denied bail in the NSW Supreme Court in February. She made a second bid for freedom on Friday which was shot down by Justice Julia Lonergan. This was despite claims by defence lawyer Feddy Kak that an increase in surety from $10,000 to $50,000 and further delays in her case warranted bail. Justice Lonergan found nothing significant had changed since February and there was no reason to grant bail this time. Three arrest warrants have been put out for other members of the family who have fled overseas, court documents say. A "hidden camera undercover sting" by current affairs program Today Tonight in 2005 showed the 49-year-old and her mother-in-law soliciting funds to be blessed. Williams left the country soon after that report, only to return in 2013, court documents reveal. She is accused of defrauding around $420,000 from three clients going back to 2003 and using a fake name to rent a property in Sydney's southwest before absconding without paying. One alleged victim was told funds from selling her home would have to be cleansed before using it to repay family and friends to prevent transferring "bad spirits". With no job and relying solely on defrauded funds to survive, Williams used multiple aliases and was arrested at Sydney International Airport in August with a one-way ticket to the United Kingdom, court documents allege. She is accused of stealing funds from victims in Victoria before fleeing with her husband to Queensland and then moving to Sydney where they were both arrested. "All of the conduct is unscrupulous and predatory on individuals who are vulnerable," crown prosecutors submitted while opposing bail in February. Deeds of release were often used to give alleged victims a belief they would get their money returned to prevent them going to police, prosecutors allege. Williams has not made pleas to one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, one count of obtaining money or valuables by deception and two counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. She has previously been convicted and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order for defrauding another victim of over $41,000 in 2018. In that case, she advertised herself as a "master psychic". "Specialising in tarot card readings, remover of all evilness, palm and numerology reading, superior spiritual healer and advisor," a brochure put into the victim's mailbox read. She will be back in court with her husband on July 30.
Perth Now
04-07-2025
- Perth Now
Money can't get bail for accused 'spiritual' fraudster
A "spiritual cleanser" who allegedly left a trail of defrauded victims in her wake has been denied bail once more despite offering more money as security. Maria Williams has been described as "unscrupulous and predatory" in court documents after allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims of her "psychic" services. The 49-year-old, her husband Larry Williams, 50, and sister Tina Montana, 48, have been arrested and charged over the scheme. Clients would offer envelopes of cash to be "blessed" or remove curses. While smaller initial amounts would be returned to build trust, the alleged fraudsters would ask for more and more cash eventually disappearing with the money, court documents say. Maria Williams was first denied bail in the NSW Supreme Court in February. She made a second bid for freedom on Friday which was shot down by Justice Julia Lonergan. This was despite claims by defence lawyer Feddy Kak that an increase in surety from $10,000 to $50,000 and further delays in her case warranted bail. Justice Lonergan found nothing significant had changed since February and there was no reason to grant bail this time. Three arrest warrants have been put out for other members of the family who have fled overseas, court documents say. A "hidden camera undercover sting" by current affairs program Today Tonight in 2005 showed the 49-year-old and her mother-in-law soliciting funds to be blessed. Williams left the country soon after that report, only to return in 2013, court documents reveal. She is accused of defrauding around $420,000 from three clients going back to 2003 and using a fake name to rent a property in Sydney's southwest before absconding without paying. One alleged victim was told funds from selling her home would have to be cleansed before using it to repay family and friends to prevent transferring "bad spirits". With no job and relying solely on defrauded funds to survive, Williams used multiple aliases and was arrested at Sydney International Airport in August with a one-way ticket to the United Kingdom, court documents allege. She is accused of stealing funds from victims in Victoria before fleeing with her husband to Queensland and then moving to Sydney where they were both arrested. "All of the conduct is unscrupulous and predatory on individuals who are vulnerable," crown prosecutors submitted while opposing bail in February. Deeds of release were often used to give alleged victims a belief they would get their money returned to prevent them going to police, prosecutors allege. Williams has not made pleas to one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, one count of obtaining money or valuables by deception and two counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. She has previously been convicted and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order for defrauding another victim of over $41,000 in 2018. In that case, she advertised herself as a "master psychic". "Specialising in tarot card readings, remover of all evilness, palm and numerology reading, superior spiritual healer and advisor," a brochure put into the victim's mailbox read. She will be back in court with her husband on July 30.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'I used to ache just walking the dog - now I've lost 8st and am about to run the London Marathon'
When Maria Williams took her dog out for a stroll it was a struggle. Despite her active job as a gardener she was overweight which left her feeling shattered by even simple activities. At almost 20st she knew her weight was interfering with her everyday life. But it took a trip to the doctor where she was told she was pre-diabetic and had high cholesterol before she did something about it. Now, after joining Slimming World, she has shed more than eight stones. And the achievement means she is finally going to be able to achieve her dream of running the London Marathon on Sunday. READ MORE: Woman, 25, who had back pain 'from exercise' died year after diagnosis READ MORE: The area of Wales with the steepest fall in fertility rates Maria, from Carmarthenshire, will not only be representing Slimming World but raising money for Cancer Research UK, a charity close to her heart. She is also aiming to increase awareness of how keeping a healthy weight and moving more can improve people's health and help reduce the risk of developing 13 types of cancer. The 44-year-old told how she had been overweight since her early teens. Despite repeated attempts to shed the pounds it always ended up with her putting the weight back on - and sometimes more. Maria, who is now a Slimming World Consultant running her own group, says: 'Emotional eating and boredom have always been the cause of my weight gains. Being overweight affected my day-to-day life and stopped me from doing things others may take for granted. "I found it difficult to walk and I did absolutely no exercise whatsoever. All this made me feel down and ashamed of myself. 'The final straw came in August 2021 after a general check-up with my GP. I was told I had pre-diabetes and if I didn't do something about my weight it wouldn't be long before it could develop to type 2 diabetes. "I was also told that I had high cholesterol. Following this something hit me, and I knew I needed to make a change." Maria decided to sign up for Slimming World where she found her start weight was 19st 8½lbs. But she says the support of the members helped keep her going all the way to her target of 11st 7lbs. She said: 'Ever since walking through the doors of my local Slimming World group, the members have been so supportive. After losing weight alongside the warmth and care I received from my group, I decided I wanted to help others in similar situations to achieve their weight loss goals, and I'm now the Consultant for the group that I joined back in 2021.' Slimming World's eating plan gave her the knowledge and skills to make changes to the way she ate and it was flexible so she didn't need to give up her favourite meals. She says: 'One of the biggest changes I've noticed to my lifestyle is what I eat. "I was worried that I'd have to give up my favourite foods in order to lose weight, but I soon found out that this wasn't the case! By following Slimming World's eating plan, I made simple swaps like making homemade Bolognese sauce using the Slimming World app recipes, instead of using a premade jar of sauce.' As Maria lost weight and grew in confidence, she decided to explore Slimming World's physical activity support programme, which helps members to embrace and integrate active habits into their everyday life. The programme recognises a wide range of activities, to suit all ability levels and budgets, and supports members to increase activity from their own individual starting point and at their own pace. Maria says: 'Before joining Slimming World, I had a fairly active job as a gardener and would walk my dog, however it wouldn't be far, and I'd feel achy and worn out very easily. Once I had lost around 5st with Slimming World, I started to look into the physical activity programme to help motivate me and set some activity-based goals. I gradually built up my fitness levels with walking and eventually started running. "Running the London Marathon has been a dream of mine for a long time, so I'm delighted to be running in aid of Cancer Research UK. I'll be running in remembrance of my auntie, who I sadly lost in 2004 to breast cancer and my best friend Darren, who passed away in 2018 to bowel cancer. "I know they will both be watching over me and be very proud. Recently my dad finished treatment for prostate cancer, and my sister-in-law has just overcome breast cancer for the second time. It means so much to me to be able to raise funds for such an important charity.' Slimming World Team Developer Siobhan Jones works closely with Maria to support her in running weekly Slimming World group sessions. Siobhan says: 'Maria is a real inspiration to us all and we are so proud of her. She works hard to make sure her members achieve their weight loss goals and her work ethic and determination has reflected in her marathon training and fundraising.' Maria Williams is representing Slimming World in its 14-strong official marathon team on Sunday, April 27. The Slimming World members, Consultants, and Head Office staff come from across the UK and Ireland and between them have lost more than 81st (514kg). The runners are raising money for Cancer Research UK, the Irish Cancer Society and Alzheimer's Research UK, Slimming World's official charity partners. Money raised for Cancer Research UK helps fund life-saving research. Anyone who would like to sponsor Maria can do so by visiting her fundraising page.
Wales Online
25-04-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
'I used to ache just walking the dog - now I've lost 8st and am about to run the London Marathon'
'I used to ache just walking the dog - now I've lost 8st and am about to run the London Marathon' Gardener Maria Williams says just walking the dog was once a struggle but now she is set to achieve her dream It took a trip to the doctor before Maria had a lightbulb moment and turned her eating habits around (Image: Slimming World ) When Maria Williams took her dog out for a stroll it was a struggle. Despite her active job as a gardener she was overweight which left her feeling shattered by even simple activities. At almost 20st she knew her weight was interfering with her everyday life. But it took a trip to the doctor where she was told she was pre-diabetic and had high cholesterol before she did something about it. Now, after joining Slimming World, she has shed more than eight stones. And the achievement means she is finally going to be able to achieve her dream of running the London Marathon on Sunday. Article continues below Maria, from Carmarthenshire, will not only be representing Slimming World but raising money for Cancer Research UK, a charity close to her heart. She is also aiming to increase awareness of how keeping a healthy weight and moving more can improve people's health and help reduce the risk of developing 13 types of cancer. Maria lost more than eight stones (Image: Slimming World ) The 44-year-old told how she had been overweight since her early teens. Despite repeated attempts to shed the pounds it always ended up with her putting the weight back on - and sometimes more. Maria, who is now a Slimming World Consultant running her own group, says: 'Emotional eating and boredom have always been the cause of my weight gains. Being overweight affected my day-to-day life and stopped me from doing things others may take for granted. "I found it difficult to walk and I did absolutely no exercise whatsoever. All this made me feel down and ashamed of myself. 'The final straw came in August 2021 after a general check-up with my GP. I was told I had pre-diabetes and if I didn't do something about my weight it wouldn't be long before it could develop to type 2 diabetes. "I was also told that I had high cholesterol. Following this something hit me, and I knew I needed to make a change." She used to find it difficult to walk but is now fit to run a marathon (Image: Slimming World ) Maria decided to sign up for Slimming World where she found her start weight was 19st 8½lbs. But she says the support of the members helped keep her going all the way to her target of 11st 7lbs. She said: 'Ever since walking through the doors of my local Slimming World group, the members have been so supportive. After losing weight alongside the warmth and care I received from my group, I decided I wanted to help others in similar situations to achieve their weight loss goals, and I'm now the Consultant for the group that I joined back in 2021.' Slimming World's eating plan gave her the knowledge and skills to make changes to the way she ate and it was flexible so she didn't need to give up her favourite meals. She says: 'One of the biggest changes I've noticed to my lifestyle is what I eat. "I was worried that I'd have to give up my favourite foods in order to lose weight, but I soon found out that this wasn't the case! By following Slimming World's eating plan, I made simple swaps like making homemade Bolognese sauce using the Slimming World app recipes, instead of using a premade jar of sauce.' Maria has a whole new life after losing weight with Slimming World (Image: Slimming World ) As Maria lost weight and grew in confidence, she decided to explore Slimming World's physical activity support programme, which helps members to embrace and integrate active habits into their everyday life. The programme recognises a wide range of activities, to suit all ability levels and budgets, and supports members to increase activity from their own individual starting point and at their own pace. Maria says: 'Before joining Slimming World, I had a fairly active job as a gardener and would walk my dog, however it wouldn't be far, and I'd feel achy and worn out very easily. Once I had lost around 5st with Slimming World, I started to look into the physical activity programme to help motivate me and set some activity-based goals. I gradually built up my fitness levels with walking and eventually started running. "Running the London Marathon has been a dream of mine for a long time, so I'm delighted to be running in aid of Cancer Research UK. I'll be running in remembrance of my auntie, who I sadly lost in 2004 to breast cancer and my best friend Darren, who passed away in 2018 to bowel cancer. "I know they will both be watching over me and be very proud. Recently my dad finished treatment for prostate cancer, and my sister-in-law has just overcome breast cancer for the second time. It means so much to me to be able to raise funds for such an important charity.' It took a trip to the doctor before Maria had a lightbulb moment and turned her eating habits around (Image: Slimming World ) Slimming World Team Developer Siobhan Jones works closely with Maria to support her in running weekly Slimming World group sessions. Siobhan says: 'Maria is a real inspiration to us all and we are so proud of her. She works hard to make sure her members achieve their weight loss goals and her work ethic and determination has reflected in her marathon training and fundraising.' Maria Williams is representing Slimming World in its 14-strong official marathon team on Sunday, April 27. The Slimming World members, Consultants, and Head Office staff come from across the UK and Ireland and between them have lost more than 81st (514kg). The runners are raising money for Cancer Research UK, the Irish Cancer Society and Alzheimer's Research UK, Slimming World's official charity partners. Article continues below Money raised for Cancer Research UK helps fund life-saving research. Anyone who would like to sponsor Maria can do so by visiting her fundraising page.
