The husband of a wedding planner who disappeared amid claims she had conned couples out of thousands of pounds said he hopes ‘justice is done’ after her apparent arrest.
Dana Twidale, 42, of Hull, East Yorkshire, is being investigated by police and reporting agency Action Fraud following complaints from engaged couples, catering and event hire firms and DJs.
A number of lovestruck men including her estranged husband Carl Twidale, 45, also allege that the mother-of-four defrauded them out of large sums.
Dana Twidale’s estranged husband Carl (pictured together) alleges that he defrauded him
Mr Twidale says he lost £4,000 and a suitor who met her via the Tinder dating app claims he gave her £10,000 for her mother’s funeral – only to find out that her mother was still alive.
Now, barber Mr Twidale has spoken out to tell how he feels like their seven-year relationship was ‘one big lie’.
He said: ‘It’s made me realise I didn’t even know who she was, or who I was when I was with her and now it just feels like I’ve woken up from a really long dream.
‘I’ve been putting a brave face on but it’s all just so emotional. I’ve lost seven years that I can’t get back and I’m often just sat there and start crying.
‘Every now and again I remember a happy memory that we had like our wedding day, which brings a smile to my face, but then that upsets me more as she wasn’t really my wife was she? I don’t know who she was as it feels everything she did was a lie.
‘I don’t want to be a martyr at all, I just want justice to be done for all her victims but people keep telling me that I’m the biggest victim of them all.’
Dana Twidale (left) was investigated by police and reporting agency Action Fraud after allegations made by people including her estranged husband Carl (right)
Mr Twidale said Humberside Police called him on Saturday and said his wife had ‘been arrested and was in custody’.
But the force refused to comment earlier this week ‘because of data protection’ and it was not clear if she is in the UK or Spain, where she was spotted three weeks ago.
Police later clarified to MailOnline that the force would not confirm or deny the arrest of any named individual, following College of Policing guidance.
Mrs Twidale was photographed by a holidaymaker sunbathing and swimming with one of her children at a holiday complex in Benidorm.
Her husband had been trying to track her down since she vanished from her rented home in the city six weeks ago.
He added himself to Facebook groups across Europe, posting pictures of her with the hope someone will spot her.
Mr Twidale said this allegedly resulted in her arrest in Spain, with the pictures used most likely sent to him by someone at the Benidorm complex.
It is thought that Mrs Twidale fled with her second youngest child and Mr Twidale has already pleaded with his wife to not ‘drag her into’ the mess.
Mrs Twidale (left) was photographed swimming at a holiday complex in Benidorm, Spain
After the allegations of scamming emerged, Mr Twidale was shocked to be approached by his wife’s ex-boyfriend, who he said she was seeing him at the same time as Mr Twidale, and claimed she had fleeced him out of more than £10,000.
Mr Twidale said: ‘Dana is the most amazing, fun loving and infectious person to be around and made me feel so special and lucky to be with her as she’s that attractive, I thought she was completely out of my league.
Mrs Twidale faced complaints from engaged couples and catering and event hire firms
‘All you look for in life is to meet that one person to grow old with and I really thought I’d landed on my feet with Dana and thought she was all I wanted in a partner as she was just amazing and fun a minute, but really that was all a lie.
‘I’ve found out since from other men that have contacted me that treating guys like that is just her MO… and then move on to the next one, so I can’t believe that she ever really loved me.’
A Facebook page called ‘People Affected by Dana Twidale the Wedding Planner Help and Support’ is full of posts from people claiming to have lost money.
Nigel Wainwright wrote: ‘I met her via Tinder and we went out a few times. She told me her mum passed away in December and was rotting away in a coffin.
‘I paid for that funeral. All lies – her mother is alive and well. I only found out last week what a lying evil person she was. She skinned me for every penny I had.’
Mrs Twidale was spotted by a holidaymaker sunbathing at a holiday complex in Benidorm
Mr Twidale said he had been shocked by the allegations. ‘She has affected dozens of people, stealing tens of thousands,’ he added. ‘My life has been a lie.’
A notice placed on the door of Mrs Twidale’s flat in Hull after she ‘abandoned’ the property
The couple met at his cousin’s funeral and were living together within weeks, before marrying in 2014 following a six-month romance.
However, they parted two years ago. Even after filing for divorce, the couple continued to meet up and even tried to rekindle their relationship, with Mr Twidale last seeing his estranged wife on July 14.
He said: ‘When we were making moves to get back together and make things work again at Christmas, I later found out that she had been messaging Nigel, a guy she had been dating, at the same time that she was in bed with me, which really hurt.
‘If I saw her, I’d say to her why? Why me? I’ve got so many questions that need answering.
‘She had everything; a successful wedding business, a loving family and a good relationship. I have no idea why she did it. It makes no sense.’
After they spit in 2017, Mrs Twidale started a one-woman wedding planner business with clients all over the UK. Couples claim she was paid large sums but did nothing.
Nicky Thorpe, 32, who got married in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, last week, says she paid Mrs Twidale ‘well over £2,000’ before realising she had been ‘duped’.
She says her ceremony only went ahead after an appeal for help on local radio. Jade Savage said she was let down by Mrs Twidale ten days before her August wedding.
She wrote on Facebook: ‘With the generosity of total strangers and love and support from family and friends our wedding day happened on Saturday.
‘It turned out better than what it would have if that evil woman had done it anyway.’
Over the course of the fraud probe, Mr Twidale says has been keeping in touch with Humberside Police who told him that Mrs Twidale is facing nine allegations of fraud.
Anyone who has been affected should contact Humberside Police on 101 as well as Action Fraud which is also investigating the claims of alleged victims