A bogus psychic healer duped two parents into handing over ?56,000, claiming it would save their children from a deadly curse.
Gina Stevenson, using the name Sister Grace, boasted she could lift evil spells cast upon their families, a court heard.
The first victim, a 53-year-old married mother, handed over ?20,932 savings and ?28,000 borrowed from a bank.
The second victim, a married father, was conned out of ?7,000.
After carrying out the cruel confidence scam in July and August 2003, Stevenson disappeared from her rented home in Station Road, Glenfield.
The 33-year-old trickster was eventually arrested on arrival at Gatwick Airport from overseas on November 2 last year.
She admitted seven counts of theft totalling ?55,932 at Leicester Crown Court yesterday.
Sentencing has been adjourned.
Gary Short, prosecuting, said Stevenson had distributed flyers in Leicester city centre offering psychic and healing services, including the reading of palms, tarot cards and a crystal ball.
The first victim visited 'Sister Grace' at her home and paid ?100 to discuss family problems.
She was told to write family names down and return the next day - when a bleak scenario involving cursed relatives was given.
Mr Short said: "The defendant spoke of spells that did not exist.
"She predicted the death of the complainant's husband and son, and said her daughter would not marry.
"She said to relieve this unhappiness she had to hand over ?2,832 - to be paid quickly because candles had to be burned for a long time.
"On July 28 the defendant instructed her to hand over a jar filled with water, and ?1,000 attached, to help lift the spell on her son."
It was followed with further demands for cash, along with the promise that all the money would be returned when the curse was lifted.
Demands were made for ?1,500 for every year of the victim's 56-year-old husband's life to save his life.
The woman handed over ?28,000 from bank loans and ?12,000 from her savings - and never saw 'Sister Grace' again.
The second victim attended for an ?80 crystal ball reading.
At his next appointment Stevenson told him his family were under certain spells.
Mr Short said: "He was told he needed to pay ?7,000 to lift the spells, and that if the money wasn't paid his son would die from his ongoing back problems."
Both victims alerted police when they realised Stevenson had fled with their cash.
Sarah Knight, defending Stevenson, said that she felt shame and remorse for her victims, adding: "She knows only too well that what she did was extremely mean."
She said that in 2003 Stevenson was grieving after her baby girl died at 35 days old.
Her marriage was under strain and she was desperate for expensive IVF treatment she could not afford.
Miss Knight said Stevenson had since conceived naturally and now has an eight-month daughter.
She has offered to repay the money at ?500 a month. Sentencing was adjourned for six weeks, pending an investigation into her finances.
Source: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/d ... erPk=77465
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