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Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How a mother-of-two mysteriously disappeared from her £1m home on the day of a family holiday... the truth was 'devastating'
Mr Jayaprakash visibly shakes as he relives the moment he found out why his wife Hemalatha had suddenly disappeared on the day of a family holiday. The couple had been due to travel to a Manchester Airport hotel for an overnight stay ahead of catching a flight the following morning to visit relatives in their native India. But as they busily packed their suitcases at their £1m detached home in Great Barr, on the outskirts of Birmingham, Hemalatha told him she needed to go out. She drove off in her Land Rover saying she was going to view offices of a new workplace, as she had previously been made redundant from her job but had told her husband she had secure a new one. But the mother-of-two was not driving to meet new work colleagues, she was rushing to attend a crown court trial - her own. Unknown to her loving husband and two adult children, Hemalatha had stolen £166k from her boss in a long-term fraud. But while Mr Jayaprakash prepared for their holiday, his wife had been appearing in the dock at Birmingham Crown Court where she pleaded guilty to fraud and abuse of position. Hemalatha seemed to be hoping she could avoid a custodial sentence without ever having to tell her family. But she was wrong. The fraudster office worker was jailed for two years and three months and was heard 'wailing' as she was led to the cells. Meanwhile her frantic family were out searching for her, fearing she may have been involved in a road accident. Speaking on the doorstep of his home this week, Mr Jayaprakash told MailOnline: 'It is beyond belief and we are absolutely shattered. 'It is devastating to all our family and friends.' Mr Jayaprakash revealed how the family searched local areas and even visited hospitals looking for Hemalatha. They eventually dialled police in desperation, reporting her as a missing person. The family only found out she had been jailed later that night at 10.30pm - more than 12 hours after she had vanished - when her former boss posted news of her conviction and sentence on a community Facebook page. Distraught Mr Jayaprakash said: 'We weren't aware of any of this, it is such a difficult time for the family. We had absolutely no idea. 'My wife didn't need the money and we are trying to find out what really happened, and maybe she was coerced by someone. 'We don't have any money issues, we are not struggling financially, so why would she do this. 'We cannot comprehend this, it is beyond belief and we are totally shattered and devastated. It is such a shock.' It was heard in court that Jayaprakash lived in a £1million home and had a rental property empire. The 44-year-old had worked at city centre-based Northwood estate agents for 12 years but made dozens of illegal transfers from business and client accounts to herself. She claimed she used some of the money to pay her child's school fees and help relatives in India who lost their homes due to flooding. Nin Rehal, who founded the business and was managing director, said he had been left devastated by her betrayal, having learned she also took money while he was out of the office caring for his terminally-ill mother. She had been hired in 2012 as an accounts manager before becoming office manager and then a personal assistant to the director. A £26,000 discrepancy was discovered when Mr Rehal sold the business in December 2023 and the accounts were examined. It transpired payments had been made to non-existent landlords to the same bank account, which was revealed as Jayaprakash's account when she submitted an expenses claim. She was suspended in March last year but claimed she had paid £29,000 into the business herself in 2019. Richard Davenport, prosecuting, told the hearing: 'The defendant said she was paying herself back for the money she provided the business in 2019. 'She also said she had stolen £55,000 and offered to repay the money. 'That amount was a vast understatement of the amount she had actually stolen.' It was established Jayaprakash had actually taken £167,062.68 over 158 transactions between January 2021 and March 2024. She was ultimately dismissed. The court was told Jayaprakash had repaid most of the stolen money, but Mr Rehal said he had not received anything himself because funds had been withheld from the sale of the business. In a victim impact statement he drew attention to a £6,480 sum she stole when he was out of office due to his mother dying less than 24 hours earlier. He stated: 'This is the level of greed and deception and betrayal we are dealing with.' He recalled how Jayaprakash turned up to his mother's funeral with 'flowers in hand.' Mr Rehal said her fraud had caused him 'immense' distress and 'devastating' financial losses. He told told the court that he had to release equity from his family home to make ends meet, including supporting his two children at university. He added: 'Meanwhile Mrs Jayaprakash resides in a £1m property, purchased outright in 2018, and benefits from income generated by a portfolio of at least eight rental properties.' Samreen Akhtar, defending, said: 'This wasn't committed by a lady living a lavish lifestyle. 'The money stolen was used to pay for her child's school fees and sent to relatives in India who had lost their livelihoods (due to flooding). 'Nevertheless she doesn't seek to minimise the offences and she is aware the victim is in the public gallery and wishes me to apologise to them through me today.' She told the court Jayaprakash had a computer science degree and hoped to get a job in the IT industry, having resigned from another estate agent job that morning due to the 'stress of these proceedings'. Ms Akhtar added: 'She resides with her husband and two children, both adults. 'Her family members are regrettably unaware (of her conviction). She has had no support in terms of these proceedings.' But Recorder Amy Jackson expressed 'scepticism' at being told Jayaprakash had managed to swiftly repay £126,000 of the stolen money through sales of land and property in India. She said: 'Everything I have read about this lady takes me to the belief she is from an affluent background where she ought not to need to steal to fund a lifestyle and effectively does lead a lavish lifestyle. 'This was pure greed.' Passing sentence the judge said: 'This was a long-running and significant fraud and abuse of trust.' Jayaprakash remained motionless as she was told she was being jailed immediately and would serve up to 40 per cent of the 27-month term in custody. But she was heard crying in anguish after being led out of the dock and down to the cells. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing to determine confiscation, costs and compensation was adjourned until August 26. Mr Jayaprakash told MailOnline that his wife was a 'respectable lady' who didn't need any extra money, and the family was now having 'such a difficult time.' He doubted she was leading a double life. On the day of her court hearings he explained: 'We were doing our packing, 'I was aware my wife had applied for another job and she said she had got it. 'If I knew my wife was in any financial difficultly and needed any money I would have helped her. 'We have not been struggling financially.' Mr Jayaprakash told how they had bought their home for £540,000 seven years ago. The large property, adorned with garden sculptures, is named Gleneagles after the renewed luxury Scottish county, golfing and spa retreat. Asked if his wife had spent the stolen money on private school fees, he replied: 'No, my daughter went to a fee paying school and I paid for that.' Quizzed if she had given cash to struggling relatives in India, as she had suggested, he responded: 'We checked with family and they have not received a penny from her.' He admitted the case was 'baffling' as well as distressing. Asked if his wife may have been hiding a secret health battle, which she could have needed funding for, he said: 'No, not that I aware of. She was physically and mentally well and in a good state of health. 'It there was any problem I would have helped her.' He believes she may have been 'coerced' into illegal activity. Mr Jayaprakash told how his wife had been suspended from her star agent Jon in around 2014/2015 with her boss saying she was 'not fit for purpose.' He said: 'It appears she was not doing her job properly but within in a few weeks he took her back, the same post but with a bigger salary. 'She was accounts manager.' On the day she disappeared, he told how he rang the police to report his wife missing. Unbeknown to him she had driven her car into the city centre to attend her court hearing. Her vehicle, more than a week later, is still parked up with her husband not being able to retrieve it becaue her keys have been retained by the prison and have not yet been returned to him for removal. Mr Jayaprakash told how family and friends were helping him support him through this 'horrendous' ordeal. He said his wife was not coping well in prison and during brief phone calls to her she kept saying 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry;' but with no explanation and cannot say why. 'She's not in a good place, the court case and sentence has taken its toll on her, and her family. 'It has had such an impact on all our lives. 'Friends and neighbours who are now aware are trying tio be supportive but it is such a difficult time.' The traumatised husband is due to visit his caged wife for the first time this week, saying: 'I've not seem her since she left our house when I thought we were going in holiday, and still all our packed bags are left in the house. 'Her sentence was very harsh, and I think charges against her may have been spiced up. 'If anything she should have been given a suspended sentence and not jailed. 'She's not a killer!' He continued: 'We are trying to piece together what happened, because we are shattered. 'Her former boss was a bit of a character and I have a strong feeling he may be involved if there was any wrong doing and spiced things up 'I have my suspicions.' Shocked neighbours also had 'no idea' of her jailing. A woman living next door, who declined to be named, told MailOnline: 'I am absolutely shocked, God, I had no idea. 'She was a very kind person and she cooked me meals at times, she was so kind, 'I have been around to her house, we were not close friends but good neighbours.' She added: 'On reflection she hadn't been in the best of health, she hadn't been very unwell but she has the cough-cold virus, as we all do.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Woman's New Sister-in-Law Expects Her to Pay Over $180 Because She Missed Her Wedding — for the Birth of Her Twins
A woman wrote on Reddit that she is dealing with family drama after she missed her brother's wedding for the birth of her twins Her sister-in-law now expects her to pay over $180 to make up for her and her wife's absence Speaking of her newborns, the woman said, "They are currently in the Neonatal Unit, and my wife and I practically live there"A woman missed her sister-in-law's wedding for the birth of her twins — and now the bride expects her to pay for her absence. The new mother, 29, wrote in a post on Reddit's "Am I the A------" forum that her wife, 26, gave birth to twins early after developing twin-twin transfusion syndrome, a rare condition that occurs when twins share a single placenta and one baby receives more blood flow and nutrients than the other, according to John Hopkins Medicine. 'They are currently in the Neonatal Unit, and my wife and I practically live there so we can spend time with our boys,' the woman wrote, then explaining that her brother's wedding took place two days after the twins' birth. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Because she didn't want to leave her wife or their new sons, the woman continued, 'I sent them their gift from us and a text wishing them a fantastic day, and I thought nothing more of it." However, the woman said she was taken aback 'to then receive a text from my new sister-in-law explaining that because my wife and I missed the wedding, she'd need us to send her £140 [over $180] for our plates of food.' 'She told me that she got my wife couldn't go as she had to stay in the hospital, but that I wasn't the one who gave birth, so I could have [gone] and saved two plates of food from going to waste," the Redditor added. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The woman said she pushed back against the new bride, writing, "I told her she was being ridiculous." When she said she asked her sister-in-law if her brother "was aware she was asking his sister for money for food," the woman continued, "She brushed that off and said weddings were expensive and she had to try and recoup her losses." The woman also said her sister-in-law wanted to keep the issue between them, "woman to woman," but she lost her temper and took 'screenshots of the conversation" and posted them online. Eventually, her sister-in-law contacted her. The woman said the new bride must've been 'bombarded with messages, as she told me to take it down, as I was making her look bad and people were taking it out of context and thinking she was some kind of villain.' When the woman got her brother involved, she said he told her 'not to worry about the money" and that he felt "it was stupid to expect us to pay for the plates." The brother, the woman added, also said he would handle his wife, but he asked his sister to remove the social media posts, which she did. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! In the comments section of the post, many Reddit users felt the woman was in the right to take offense.'She just got married, and could be riding the high of that, but instead she's pestering people worried sick about their newborns, over MONEY,' one person wrote. They added, "People deserve to know that SIL is seemingly devoid of compassion, so they can avoid talking about sensitive subjects around her. Who knows what awful thing she'll say next!' Another agreed that the sister-in-law made herself look bad. 'Your brother is now having to deal with the person he really married,' the user said. Others, meanwhile, said family matters should be left for behind closed doors and not for public shaming. 'All you had to do was text your brother the screenshot and ask him if he agrees with her,' one individual commented. Read the original article on People
New York Times
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Thrillers That Capture the Dark Side of Small-Town Life
This month's books all provide pleasingly fresh variations on a familiar theme: a troubled person's reluctant return home to confront old traumas, and possibly unsolved murders, from long ago. Whether this is a good plan (or not) is an open question. The Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont, the title character of THE GHOSTWRITER (Sourcebooks, 342 pp., $27.99), is still haunted by a tragedy from a generation earlier: the unsolved double murder in 1975 of her father's siblings, Poppy and Danny, in Ojai, Calif. Though her father — just 16 at the time — had an alibi, he could never escape from the rumors that he was the killer. A half-century later, Olivia is pulled back to Ojai to help her father, whom she hasn't seen in decades, write his memoirs. It's a disturbing task. He appears ready to tell the truth, finally, about what happened on that fateful day all those years ago — but is she ready to hear it? 'There are things I never told the police,' he says, darkly. Complicating matters is his recent diagnosis of dementia, and how his memory seems to flicker on and off. 'This illness, it's deceptive. It tricks you into thinking you have a grasp on reality, on events of the past,' he tells her, in one of his lucid moments. 'But then you find out that nothing you believed is real.' Clark's book deftly and engagingly delves into this complicated not-so-cold case, from multiple points of view. Most affecting are a journal and some newly unearthed film footage taken by Poppy, an aspiring moviemaker and budding feminist who turns out to be the heroine of the story. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Review Geek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Has The Better Sister been renewed for Season 2? Here's what we know:
Summary The Better Sister is the latest Amazon Prime Video Original. This murder mystery has everything from family drama and betrayals to sloppy investigations and shocking confessions. Amazon Prime Video determines whether to renew a show based on various factors such as completion rate, viewership numbers, production costs, and more. As of now, there's no news regarding the renewal of The Better Sister, but we look at the possibility of a Season 2. The Better Sister is another exciting Amazon Prime Video Original that graced our screens in May 2025. With complex themes of estrangement, mental health, domestic abuse and corruption, it's for those who are fans of thriller dramas. The 8-episode show stars Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Banks, Corey Stoll, Kim Dickens, Maxwell Acee Donovan and more. Based on the book of the same name by Alafair Burke, it is directed by Craig Gillespie who is known for I, Tonya and Cruella. With bittersweet moments and plot twists, the season finale will have viewers on the edge of their seats. If you've watched the first season and want to know if there will be a second, this article has all the details you're looking for. Here's everything we know: What is The Better Sister Season 1 about? The Better Sister Season 1 begins with the murder of Adam Macintosh, a rich and successful lawyer and husband to the equally successful editor-in-chief, Chloe Taylor. Chloe has the perfect life, is part of the upper echelons of New York City's richest and is known for her brand of honesty and sincerity. That is till Adam is murdered and her son, Ethan is targeted as the prime suspect. To make matters worse, the cops end up calling Chloe's white trash of a sister and addict, Nicky Macintosh, who is bitter that her sister stole her life. Not only is Nicky Adam's ex-wife, she is also Ethan's biological mother. As a high-profile case, Chloe's messy past is suddenly thrust under the spotlight, affecting her brand and her reputation. And with Detective Nancy Guidry hellbent on arresting Ethan, the estranged sisters must put aside their differences and work together to save their son and find Adam's real killer. We have extensive coverage of The Better Sister Season 1 on the site, including recaps for all episodes. You can find those HERE! Has The Better Sister Been Renewed for Season 2? At the time of writing, Amazon Prime Video hasn't renewed The Better Sister for a Season 2. Amazon tends to look at views and the drop-off rates before renewing or cancelling the show, along with the critical success. Some shows are instantly renewed like Reacher or Fallout while others take years such as THEM and Upload. Popular Amazon Prime Originals do get renewals most of the time but things look bleak for our 2025 show. The Better Sister has been labelled a limited series which means it will only have one season. What do we know about The Better Sister Season 2? Not much is known about The Better Sister Season 2 at the moment, given that it has not been greenlit. Not only is it a limited series, all of the plot points are wrapped up and most of the characters are given closure. There is no more source material to follow up on either. However, there is still the fact that Detective Nancy Guidry knows about Nicky which could always be explored. If the show does miraculously return, you can expect a season with approximately 8 episodes, each lasting around an hour. Nothing is confirmed yet, but we'll be sure to update this page as soon as any new information comes in. Would you like to see The Better Sister return for a second season? Or do you think the story has run its course? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
College Student Calls Out Her Stepdad for Major Lie at Her Graduation Dinner
A woman turns to the internet for advice on how she handled a situation with her stepdad Her stepdad tried to take credit for getting her through college, despite not paying for her education The woman called him out on it, and now a few family members say she was in the wrongA recent college graduate found herself at the center of family drama after she called out her stepdad for lying about helping her through college. In a Reddit post, she wrote that before going to college, her stepdad told her he wouldn't pay for her tuition because she wasn't his 'real responsibility.' Her maternal grandparents ended up paying for everything, and she worked part-time through school to pay for other expenses. However, once she graduated, her stepdad tried to take credit for financing her degree. 'At my graduation dinner, he stood up and gave a speech about how proud he was and how 'we worked so hard to get [me] through school.' I asked, 'We? What exactly did you contribute?'" she wrote. "My mom kicked me under the table, but I didn't back down. I said, 'Everything I have is thanks to Grandma and Grandpa. Not you.' " Her stepdad turned red and told her she was being ungrateful, to which she replied, 'No, I'm being accurate.' Now, several family members are upset and blaming the college graduate for embarrassing her stepdad, insisting that she should've let it go. However, most commenters sided with the poster, arguing that she was in the right to say something and stand her ground. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'He is trying to take credit for something that he didn't even contribute to because it was not 'his responsibility,'" one user wrote. "Good for you on giving the credit to your grandparents. Also how are you being ungrateful when he did not contribute to anything.' Another commenter posted, 'If anything, he embarrassed himself by lying. You just set the record straight. If you care to you can tell the family members that intervened that you didn't want to diminish your grandparents contribution by letting your stepdad claim credit for something he had no part in. Or you can just ignore them knowing you did the right thing.' Read the original article on People
