In a story that reads more like a Netflix drama than real life, a woman in Manchester has been sentenced for manipulating her housemate with an elaborate online deception that lasted nearly 15 years.
Claire Gilbert, 45, preyed on her best friend, Michelle Oldham, convincing her she was in love with a man who didn’t exist.
The Fictional World of Carl Murphy
The court heard that Gilbert created multiple fake online identities, centering around a man named “Carl Murphy.”
Oldham was led to believe she was in a romantic and sexual relationship with Carl and even convinced that he had a young daughter, “Katie.”
Using this fiction, Gilbert extracted thousands of pounds from her victim.
Oldham was told to pay for “Katie’s” school trip to Disneyland, as well as Christmas presents, birthday gifts, and even a mobile phone.
At one point, she was told the girl had meningitis, was in a coma, and needed fingers amputating—yet was barred from visiting her.
The Personal Toll on the Victim
The psychological and emotional impact on Oldham was devastating.
Isolated from her real friends and family, she suffered a nervous breakdown and her weight dropped to just seven stone.
In 2019, she moved in with her sister, only for Gilbert to use her identity to rack up £4,000 in shopping bills, prompting police involvement after Oldham began receiving debt collection letters.
Court Testimony and the Deception Unraveled
Oldham, now 45, described the manipulation as “psychological abuse, emotional torment, and deception.”
She called for catfishing—creating fake online identities to deceive others—to become a criminal offence.
She first met Gilbert in 2005 while working in retail in Manchester and took her in out of kindness.
Prosecutor Tara Riley explained how Gilbert had claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse, gaining Oldham’s sympathy.
Soon after, Oldham was contacted by “Carl Murphy,” who was entirely a creation of Gilbert, along with messages from fictitious family members.
Suspicions and Discovery
Oldham’s suspicions grew when she caught Gilbert using “Carl’s” Facebook account.
Investigating further, she discovered cards, gifts, and a phone linked to “Katie.” Police raided Gilbert’s home in October 2020, seizing phones and even a letter Oldham had written to the imaginary child.
The Court’s Verdict
Gilbert admitted to stalking and fraud and was sentenced to three years in prison at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
Judge Bernadette Baxter remarked on Gilbert’s lack of remorse, stating, “Even when Miss Oldham suffered a nervous breakdown you persisted with your wicked fictions.”
Defence counsel Shirlee Duckworth acknowledged the extraordinary nature of the case, likening it to a Netflix plot.
The abuse spanned from 2005, though the charges covered 2013 to 2020 due to the timing of stalking legislation.
Oldham’s Reflection
Oldham, who has undergone counselling, said, “The only reason I didn’t take my own life was I couldn’t bear to put my family through that pain.”
Her story serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of long-term deception and online manipulation.
