A model used stolen credit card details to pay for expensive cosmetic surgery, a court heard.
Faileigh Cooper, 23, turned to fraud to pay for liposuction and lip enhancements, the jury was told. When questioned by police she claimed she was going to sue because surgery had burnt her arm, Southwark crown court heard.
The part-time model went to a leading clinic in Wimpole Street for consultations on the treatment before handing over a £500 deposit.
Cooper and a man only known as “Aaron” then repeatedly called the surgery to pay the balance, including £5,250 from the stolen cards. Prosecuting Bartholomew O'Toole said Cooper had hoped to improve her image for her modelling career.
“In the early part of 2011 Miss Cooper decided to have cosmetic surgery,” he said.
“She had made enquiries to a surgery about having liposuction and lip enhancements at a clinic called the Dr Alexandra Chambers Medical and Aesthetic Practice, on Wimpole Street. “She met Dr Alex Chambers and after various consultations she decided on the procedures which were going to cost £6,850.
“She initially paid a £500 deposit, and then made the rest of the payments using credit cards, mostly or indeed exclusively on the phone.”
Cooper and Aaron called the surgery 14 times between February 21 and February 23 last year using both legitimate and fraudulent cards to pay off the balance.
The clinic was later informed that the card payments were fraudulent, leaving them out of pocket. Police were called and Cooper told detectives that Aaron was not her boyfriend, and she had met him less than 20 times after meeting him in a club.
“She did not remember which club, know his surname or where he lived,” said Mr O'Toole.
“She said that she thought they were Aaron’s (credit) cards 100 per cent, and that she was desperate to for the operation.
“But this was a joint (enterprise) between herself and a man called Aaron."
Cooper, of Battersea, denies four counts of fraud. The trial continues.
