THE jury in the trial of a woman charged with defrauding a Chester pensioner has been discharged.

In a dramatic development, the jury in the trial of 42-year-old Mia Cavalli had been unable to reach a verdict on the charge of whether she had defrauded the man, at the time an 81-year-old Chester resident, out of thousands of pounds by claiming she worked for Cartier jewellers and/or falsely claiming she had breast cancer.

The charge covered the period between September 2019, when Cavalli and the pensioner first met at the Caramel Cafe in Rufus Court, Chester, and January 2020, when Cavalli was arrested.

A court order prevents the naming of the alleged victim, now aged 83, other than to say he was a 'prominent Cheshire businessman'.

Having retired to consider its verdict on Wednesday, the jury spent over a day deliberating, after hearing evidence at the trial which had been taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel since Monday, October 4.

At 3pm on Thursday, October 14 – having relocated to Chester Crown Court – the jury was handed the chance to provide a majority verdict of 10-2 if jurors could not be unanimous in providing a verdict.

However, one hour later, the jury had not reached a verdict in respect of this charge, and so were discharged by Judge Simon Berkson.

Earlier on Thursday, the jury found Cavalli and her 24-year-old son Charlie Smith not guilty, unanimously, on the second charge of fraud by false representation.

Both defendants were cleared on the charge of defrauding the pensioner by claiming Smith was a serving Metropolitan Police officer when the pensioner purchased a £13k Ford Focus at the Evans Halshaw dealership for him.

Earlier in the trial, the jury was told Cavalli had earlier pleaded guilty to a separate charge of fraud by false representation, after two fake Cartier payslips were found at her address. Giving evidence, she said the payslips were used to obtain her rented home at Cuppin Street, several months before she met the pensioner. Cavalli has yet to be sentenced for this charge.

A court hearing will take place on Thursday, October 28, where it will be discussed whether there will be a retrial.

Cavalli was bailed to her bail address on condition she does not contact the complainant in the case.