Hello everyone!
Sorry it's been a long time.. I was locked out of my MN account for one reason or another and I didn't get the notifications for this thread on the other account. But alas, I'm back on here now and will give everyone a long awaited update.
She received my letter and I got a text message from her probably 10-14 days later asking to pay me £5 per month. (I wish that was a joke.) she said she didn't deserve to pay me back due to the article and the thread, so she did see it.
It later came out that she owed nearly everyone in our group that I introduced her to, quite a bit of money, as well as some items that she was loaned. Not everybody has got their things back.
CF and I agreed to £50 a month. She wasn't reliable on it and missed it every now and again but I received my last payment in May. I'm still blocked on social media as are all the friends and family. She will communicate over text if she really needs to.
She really was a complete scam artist. The things that came out about her are criminal. (Think fraud, taking peoples cards and money)
Our friendship group is still together, very weary about lending anyone money now.
So there it is, I got the shoes back and I eventually got my money back. WRT the pawn broker, I did end up reporting them to trading standards, as they said it was up to them to deal with the transaction with CF herself, even though they were my shoes. Nothing ever came of it, but it's bad business to accept personal valuables with now proof that the person selling them actually bought them.
This thread bought back so many memories, especially the tinned rice pudding situation.
Not the most excitable or notable ending, but the main thing is I got what I was owed. Friends are battling to get theirs back. One is going through small claims, one is probably going to write it off.
Lesson learnt, will never loan my stuff again!