THE outraged owners of a Spanish holiday villa have revealed how a con woman caretaker fleeced them out of thousands – by renting it out behind their back.
Heather Powell, 46, was meant to clean and look after a sunshine apartment on behalf of Dundee couple Joy and Gerry Melville Watson.
But the convicted thief secretly sub-let the Costa Blanca property to unsuspecting holidaymakers, netting a potential fortune in the process.
The couple only discovered their flat was being let when Gerry paid an unannounced visit, discovering stunned Irish holidaymakers in his home.
Since then other people have come forward to claim the same thing has happened to them at Powell’s hands.
Now it’s emerged Welsh-born Powell has a previous conviction for theft, which she hadn’t mentioned when Joy and others took her on.
Last night housing association worker Joy said she felt utterly humiliated by the betrayal and warned other people who might have employed Powell at their holiday homes to change the locks.
“The whole episode has left me absolutely fuming,” she said. “It was only when Gerry went to the flat earlier than planned that we discovered the ugly truth.
“He walked in and was stunned to discover two Irish passports, strangers’ clothes and the fridge with food in it.
“Gerry called me and I told him to leave immediately and go and get a friend, Dave Love, before returning to confront whoever was in living in the flat.
“Dave’s a big guy and we thought he would prevent Gerry getting attacked if things got ugly.
“But when they returned they opened to the door to find two stunned Irish guys.
“They said they rented the flat from Heather and this was their second year holidaying in it.”
The Irish holidaymakers revealed they were paying 250 euros a week plus 50 euros cleaning money.
The couple first became suspicious their flat was being let behind their backs after receiving a tip-off from another resident of the swish Spanish village of Campoverde, near Alicante, where they bought their holiday apartment.
Joy – who scrimped and saved with Gerry to be able to afford their second home – was approached by a woman in the pool area one day who told them Powell had been letting their flat out behind their backs “for a long period of time”.
The shock revelation sparked Gerry’s surprise visit, confirming Powell’s sneaky sub-letting.
“She had the keys because she was cleaning it but we never gave her permission to let it and certainly didn’t get any fee for tenants,” Joy added.
“We had dismissed any plans as we didn’t want it damaged.
“We trusted Heather because she was so nice and went to a great deal of bother to gain our trust.
“I am wondering how much she has ripped us off in the nine years she has had our keys.”
Retired builder Dave Love, who splits his time between Alloa, Clackmannanshire, and Spain, said the Irish holidaymakers he surprised with Gerry quickly left when they realised what had happened.
“Gerry came round and told me there were people’s belongings in his apartment,” he said. “We walked in on two Irish guys who were as stunned to see us as we were them.
“They had no idea they weren’t supposed to be there.
“They told us the holiday was arranged through Heather and that they had been there the previous year, too.
“They looked miffed at being asked to leave but gathered their belongings and left.”
The couple’s experience mirrors that of fellow Spanish villa owner Philip Turnbull from Washington, near Newcastle, who also discovered his flat was being let out to a family that created mayhem.
IT specialist Philip said: “Heather Powell asked us to allow her to give our villa to a couple recovering from cancer.
“I was reluctant but felt sorry for them. A neighbour later told us out our villa was lived in that week by a family and the noise was like World War Three.
“They had a large poodle jumping in and out of our pool.
“We felt humiliated that we had been lied to.
“We now have friends watching our villa for us.
“Heather came over as very plausible but we were duped.”
Powell has a history of dishonesty.
She was jailed for four months in October 2004 for stealing £4556 from her best friend, Kim Lewis.
She only spent a night behind bars, however – spending the rest of her sentence doing community work.
But the experience devastated Kim, who said she’s not surprised at the latest villa sub-letting claims.
Last night Kim said: “Heather wormed her way into our affections and trust after I went through a painful divorce.
“She helped me organise bills but helped herself to my bank account.
“We were so broke at times my son was handing over money from his paper round to help keep food on the table.
“It took my family years to recover.
“Nothing would surprise me about that woman.
“The police said at the time they had not heard the last of her.”
Ms Powell – who originally hails from Gwent – did not wish to speak to The Sunday Post when we contacted her last week.
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