- EXCLUSIVE: Michael and Nikki Tattersall were scammed by friend Aaron Paget
- He used Mr Tattersall’s credit card on shopping spree while he lay in hospital
- Newlywed couple had planned to use money for spa holiday for honeymoon
A newlywed couple were left devastated to find their best man had spent over £3k on their credit card – just days after they tied the knot.
Aaron Paget, 44, made fraudulent payments on his friends’ NatWest card in the weeks running up to and after the big day in 2021.
He spent the money on trainers, a jetwash and various tools after taking the card from Michael and Nikki Tattersall’s kitchen cupboard at their home in Gosport, Hampshire.
Newlywed Michael, a retired HGV driver, had been rushed to Queen Alexander Hospital, Portsmouth, five days before his wedding with heart failure.
During this time Paget regularly went with Nikki Tattersall, 51, who suffers from agoraphobia, to visit her husband-to-be.
After visiting on June 29, Nikki and Paget drove back, where he accompanied her into the house.
Nikki, who was looking after Mick’s wallet while he was unwell, placed it into a kitchen cupboard for safekeeping before ‘popping upstairs’.
She did not realise the card had been removed by Paget until the bank statement came through the post weeks later.
After taking the card, Paget spent £3,233.80 over 11 days, in multiple shops using contactless payments and cash withdrawals.
Michael and Nikki, who is his full-time carer, noticed the theft when the credit card statement was sent to the house on July 16, 2021.
The couple confronted Paget on the same day, but they claim he denied ever seeing the credit card.
Aaron Paget was found guilty to one charge of fraud by false representation at Portsmouth Crown Court on October 6 last year and was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment.
Michael, from Gosport, Hampshire, said: ‘I didn’t expect my best man to betray my trust. We treated him like family. He infiltrated our lives and stole from us.
‘It was hard to recover from the great financial loss while I fought for my life in hospital.’
Michael and Nikki got engaged in December 2020 after meeting on a dating site in 2016.
They planned their small wedding, costing £3k, to be held in July 2021.
Just a month beforehand, in June 2021, Michael asked best pal, Paget, a mechanic, to be his best man.
During this time, Michael was in and out of Queen Alexander Hospital after being diagnosed with heart failure in February 2020.
Nikki said: ‘They were really close. Aaron had become part of the family after Michael’s diagnosis.
‘They had been pals for over two years. Michael even bought him a £400 suit and £180 shoes for the big day so they could be matching.’
Despite their close bond, the fraud began after Paget had taken the NatWest debit card on June 10 – just 30 days before the wedding.
Amongst the fraudulent transactions were cash withdrawals of £250 and various large purchases in shops like Asda, Tesco and a Spar supermarket.
Nikki said: ‘He was super helpful. I suffer with agoraphobia, and he was so understanding. I thought he loved us.’
Despite the groom’s ill health, their big day, went ‘without a hitch’.’
They were married in front of 50 guests at Godsball Fareham Registry Office, Hampshire, on 10 July 2021.
Paget was a ‘huge part’ of the day, being a close family friend who was ‘trusted by all.’
The newly married couple had planned to use savings on their NatWest credit card to pay for a honeymoon to the Maldives – which they’d hoped to book soon after the wedding.
Nikki said: ‘I was looking forward to relaxing. Mick had been so poorly, so we just wanted to chill. A nice spa resort to relieve stress after the wedding.’
They realised something was wrong when the credit card statement came in with Mick quickly suspecting Paget.
Michael said: ‘Aaron had helped my wife with a lot of daily tasks due to her condition.
‘I had a lot of trust in him, the whole thing is shocking.’
The couple first became aware of an issue on 16 July 2021, when Michael’s card was declined.
Michael reported the issue to the police who called Paget in for an interview.
Portsmouth Police were initially unable to help but Nikki and Michael appealed the case with Hampshire Police, in August 2021.
They agreed to investigate and after 18 months were able to secure a trial.
Nikki said: ‘I am over the moon. We’ve been fighting for so long to get justice. I trusted him, and he completely used us.’
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
