Woman Faces Court for Allegedly Deceiving Man Into Believing He Was Father of Her Child in Warrington

A 26-year-old woman has appeared in court after being accused of fraud for falsely telling a man he was the father of her child.

The Fraud Allegations

Beth Fernley is said to have misled Ryan Hampson, convincing him that he was the father of her child.

She faces accusations of fraud for presenting false information with the intent of making a financial gain or causing financial loss to the victim.

The alleged incident is claimed to have taken place between March 31, 2019, and May 1, 2021.

Court Appearance and Legal Proceedings

Fernley appeared in Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, where she did not enter a plea to the charges.

Her barrister, Tom Worsfold, informed the court that they would be filing a defense application to have the case dismissed, describing it as a somewhat unusual situation.

Worsfold also urged the Crown to review the case, particularly considering the public interest and the scope of the charges.

Next Steps in the Legal Process

Judge Andrew Menary, KC, set a hearing for the dismissal application on March 18.

A provisional trial date was also scheduled for October 29, with the trial expected to last four days.

Fernley, who had four supporters present in the public gallery, was granted unconditional bail while the case proceeds.