British Pensioner Featured in Netflix’s ‘Con Mum’ Facing Fraud Charges

An 84-year-old British woman featured in the Netflix documentary Con Mum has been charged with multiple counts of fraud in Singapore.

Dionne Marie Hanna is facing five fraud charges involving three individuals and appeared in court via videolink on Saturday.

The Con Mum documentary, which premiered on Netflix on March 25, detailed how Hanna reentered the life of her son, renowned pastry chef Graham Hornigold, in 2020, claiming to be his long-lost mother. A DNA test confirmed her story, but Hornigold later alleged she defrauded him of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Hanna, who portrayed herself as a successful global entrepreneur, appeared in court from a hospital bed at Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore, according to local media. The reason for her hospitalisation remains unclear.

Allegations of deception and false identity

Singaporean police reported receiving several complaints from alleged victims following the documentary’s release. Preliminary investigations suggest Hanna was involved in at least five fraud cases, with total losses exceeding £115,000.

Authorities said that victims were instructed to transfer money under the pretext of covering legal fees and the costs of opening overseas bank accounts, supposedly as part of arrangements for investment and inheritance. Believing her claims to be genuine, the victims made multiple payments.

If convicted, Hanna could face a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Her next court appearance is scheduled for April 11.

False claims of terminal illness

When Hanna reconnected with him, she claimed she was terminally ill with cancer and began showering him and his partner with expensive gifts, including cars. She said she wanted him to inherit her wealth, but insisted they would need to travel to Switzerland to open a bank account in his name.

Hornigold’s partner, Heather Kaniuk, grew suspicious—especially after discovering he had transferred £100,000 to his mother.

“I started becoming very afraid of who this woman was. I realised I was on a train heading for a wreck and I needed to save Graham,” Kaniuk said in the documentary. She later ended her relationship with Hornigold.

The chef, who has appeared on television shows such as Junior Bake-Off as a judge, eventually discovered his mother had lied about her illness and other aspects of her story.