Lyne Barlow: Man conned out of £1,800 after booking Caribbean cruise

Crooked holiday saleswoman Lyne Barlow duped dozens of people out of hundreds of thousands of pounds as part of a complex online scam.

When Covid hit and people started to ask for refunds as they could not travel due to lockdown restrictions she told them she was terminally ill.

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Lyne Barlow (Image: Lyne Barlow)

Barlow, 39, formerly of Stanley, was arrested in September 2020 and on Monday pleaded guilty to a series of fraud and money laundering charges.

One of her victims, Brian McCluskey, said: “She was recommended by a colleague who had already had one or two holidays through her company.

“All he could do was talk good about her.  

“I booked a Caribbean cruise sailing out of New Orleans, a kind of bucket list thing for myself and my partner.

“She was offering discounts for certain deals like drinks packages.

“I had no reason to query it. I just thought she had her own business and that was how she operates.”

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Mr McCluskey, 57, a merchant seaman from paid for a week-long cruise on board the Carnival Glory, a luxury cruise liner with capacity for 3,000 passengers.

The booking was for seven nights at sea and five nights in New Orleans and

included flights, a drinks package and the couple were upgraded to have a room with a balcony on the ship.

They were due to go in autumn 2020 and were given a discounted rate of £1,871 for paying in full.

Mr McCluskey said: “I sent her an email on March 20, 2020. Because of the Covid restrictions there was no chance of us being able to get to America, never mind New Orleans any time soon at that point so I asked her for a refund and she said ‘yes’.

“When there were delays she started to play the old health card.

“She mentioned being in hospital a few times and I had a bit of sympathy for her but then as the penny began to drop it turned to anger.”

Earlier this year, Mr McCluskey and his partner got to have their cruise on board to the Carnival Glory, sailing from New Orleans, but it was not through Barlow and they have still not had their money back.

Mr McCluskey did get to go to New Orleans, eventually (Image: Mr McCluskey did get to go to New Orleans, eventually)

The welcome was not always the friendliest (Image: The welcome was not always the friendliest)

The couple were rewarded with some beautiful sunsets (Image: The couple were rewarded with some beautiful sunsets)

He added: “We did the holiday this year with a reputable travel company but it cost us double. It ended up being another £4,000.”

Lyne Barlow arriving at court (Image: Lyne Barlow arriving at court)

Barlow is due to be sentenced at Durham Crown Court in December and has been warned she is facing a lengthy prison sentence.

Mr McCluskey said: “She was basically stealing from people who cannot afford to be stolen from. It is money that we can ill afford to have lost.

“My sympathy for her is zero.”

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