Pictures taken at a 'lavish' Christmas party thrown by Lyne Barlow for family and friends show how the fraudster liked to splash the cash.

The scam artist, who is now behind bars for fleecing people out of hundreds of thousands of pounds by selling fake holidays, clearly liked to enjoy herself.

The photographer hired by the 39-year-old, who also duped her own mother, said the festive event at a County Durham social club included a visit from Santa with his elves for children who attended.

Read more: Man conned out of £1,800 after booking Caribbean cruise

The Northern Echo: Children at Lyne Barlow's Christmas partyChildren at Lyne Barlow's Christmas party (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo: It included a visit from Santa ClausIt included a visit from Santa Claus (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo: And his elves And his elves (Image: Contributor)

She is also said to have held an awards ceremony for her family and friends and paid for everything herself.

It is understood the event took place in December 2018, before the mother-of-two, who lied to family and customers about having terminal cancer, started her notorious Facebook travel scam.

At this point she would have still been using cash she conned out of relatives who were told they were investing in a company with the promise of six figure returns.

The Northern Echo: There was an award ceremony for family and friends There was an award ceremony for family and friends (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo: With lots of effort to make it a special event With lots of effort to make it a special event (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo: Including fancy cupcakes Including fancy cupcakes (Image: Contributor)

 

Read next:

The photographer said: “She contacted me in December 2018 to photograph a private Christmas party at a local club.

“It was at a very full Tanfield Lea club and she paid for everything.

“This was not a regular Christmas party she was done up very lavishly and held a mock award ceremony for her family and friends

“She had a Santa with elves."

The Northern Echo: The event was held in December 2018The event was held in December 2018 (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo: Barlow has hired the hall at a village social club near her home in StanleyBarlow has hired the hall at a village social club near her home in Stanley (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo: And splashed out on lots of decorations And splashed out on lots of decorations (Image: Contributor)

The photographer added: "I remember thinking this must have cost absolute fortune.

“It was shortly after that she told Facebook she had cancer. I messaged and said how sorry I was.”