May Charlesworth, known as Violet Charlesworth (January 1884 – after 1912) was a British

fraud In law, fraud is intent (law), intentional deception to deprive a victim of a legal right or to gain from a victim unlawfully or unfairly. Fraud can violate Civil law (common law), civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrato ...

ster who gained notoriety in the early 20th century for financial deception and faking her own death.

Early life

Charlesworth was born in

Stafford Stafford () is a market town and the county town of Staffordshire, England. It is located about south of Stoke-on-Trent, north of Wolverhampton, and northwest of Birmingham. The town had a population of 71,673 at the 2021–2022 United Kingd ...

in January 1884. She was the youngest of at least four children. She lived with her mother, Miriam Charlesworth, and together they were involved in various financial schemes.

Fraud and deception

Charlesworth defrauded several people by falsely claiming to be an heiress who would soon inherit a substantial fortune. On the basis of this fabricated identity, she obtained loans and goods on credit. Her charm and apparent social standing enabled her to manipulate numerous victims, who believed her inheritance was imminent. The fraud extended over several years and involved numerous creditors. On 2 January 1909, it was reported that Charlesworth had died in a car accident near

Penmaenmawr Penmaenmawr (, ) is a town and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales, which was formerly in the parish of Dwygyfylchi and the traditional county of Caernarfonshire. It is on the North Wales coast between Conwy and Llanfairfechan and was an ...

North Wales North Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdon ...

. According to initial accounts, she had fallen over a cliff, and her body was presumed to have been swept away by the sea. The story received extensive media coverage and attracted public sympathy. However, suspicions soon arose due to inconsistencies in witness statements and the absence of a body. A police investigation revealed that the accident had been staged. Charlesworth was eventually discovered alive in

Oban Oban ( ; meaning ''The Little Bay'') is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William, Highland, Fort William. During the tourist seaso ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

Trial and imprisonment

Charlesworth and her mother were arrested and charged with obtaining money under false pretences. Their trial took place in 1910. Both women were found guilty, and in July 1910, Violet Charlesworth was sentenced to five years' penal servitude. Miriam Charlesworth received the same sentence. The judge later reconsidered and reduced their sentences to three years. An appeal against the sentence was dismissed. The case drew widespread public and media attention, not only in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

but also internationally, particularly due to the dramatic nature of the fake death and the involvement of a young woman in such an elaborate fraud. She was released from

prison A prison, also known as a jail, gaol, penitentiary, detention center, correction center, correctional facility, or remand center, is a facility where Prisoner, people are Imprisonment, imprisoned under the authority of the State (polity), state ...

in February 1912 and returned to Scotland, but nothing is known of her later life.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Charlesworth, Violet 1884 births Year of death missing British female criminals British fraudsters People who faked their own death People from Stafford