Plenty of Fish conwoman, 35, stole date's £3k life savings and 'falsely claimed he raped her'
Natalie Rivers, 35, faked genuine feelings for her 58-year-old victim after spending the night with him last December.
But the next morning she nicked savings worth £3,040 from his home after he went out for an appointment, Norwich Crown Court heard.
Rivers was arrested on suspicion of theft and told police that her victim was a Sugar Daddy who had been paying her £150 an hour to be his Sugar Baby.
But when that story fell apart, she falsely claimed that he had raped her, said prosecutor John Morgans.
The man was questioned by police and forced to wait four months before finding out no further action was to be taken against him.
He said in an impact statement that he felt low and depressed and physically sick as a result of being accused of rape.
Rivers, of Old Costessey, Norfolk, was jailed for 20 months this week after she admitted theft.
The court heard that she had a series of previous convictions which involved her befriending people and stealing from them.
Mr Morgans said Rivers had met her latest victim on the Plenty of Fish website last December and had stayed the night at his home.
He added: “She gave a charade of being interested in him.”
Rivers found his cash and pocketed it the next day after when he went to an appointment.
The man returned to find she had gone, along with his money.
Mr Morgans said: “He tried to contact her but she had already blocked him which indicated what a sham her professions of love were.
“There is quite a pattern of offending when it comes to her crimes.”
The 20 month jail term will run concurrently to the existing jail sentence being served by Rivers for breach of a suspended sentence.
A Norfolk Police spokeswoman said: “A man, aged in his 50s, was arrested following a report of rape in December 2017.
“The man was questioned, but subsequently released without charge in April 2018 following an investigation.”
Judge Maureen Bacon said Rivers had used herself as “bait” on a dating website and set out to exploit her victim’s interest in her.
She told her: “You have operated in this way in the past. You have previous convictions for the exact same sort of offence.
“Your modus operandi is theft from people that you have befriended and you steal money and goods while in their property.”
Speaking of her false rape claim, the judge added: “Such a malicious complaint you made undermines all those making genuine allegations.”
The court heard how Rivers, also known as Natalie Collins and Natalie Chamberlain, had stolen bank cards and cheques from another man in 2013 after befriending him on the internet.
She then tried to use one of the cards to buy a husky puppy.
Rivers also stole cash from a 77-year-old pensioner she befriended and from the handbag of a charity worker trying to help her.
Rivers is currently serving the 24-week sentence and was due for release on New Year's Eve but has now been jailed a further 20 months for her latest theft.
David Stewart, defending, said Rivers deserved credit for her plea.
A man who described himself as one of Rivers’ loyal friends’ said she was “a lovely person.”
The man who asked not to be named said he met her last year and was in regular contact with her.
He added: “Some people don’t like me being her friend, but I don’t care what my friends say. Hopefully he will move on from this.”
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