Woman spared jail for blackmailing dentist ex-husband

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 01:03 · Archive

Dina Williamson avoided jail after blackmailing her ex-husband, dentist Ben Williamson, with false professional misconduct claims over divorce money.

Dina Williamson, 39, from Bournemouth, has been spared jail after blackmailing her former husband, dentist Ben Williamson, with false claims of professional misconduct. She threatened to report him to the General Dental Council unless he paid her more money from their divorce settlement. The case was heard at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Williamson accused her ex-husband of drinking alcohol between patient appointments. She also posted on the dental practice's Facebook page, alleging personal misconduct by some of the male staff. In February she started sending malicious messages and posted comments on a Facebook page intended to damage and undermine him. When Mr Williamson blocked her messages, she responded: 'No chance of a reply? See you at my funeral then?'

In May 2025, Williamson sent a message demanding money, threatening to report him to the General Dental Council for gross misconduct. On May 27, after he had not paid her, she carried out the threat and made what the judge called 'salacious and vexatious allegations' to the GDC. Judge Jonathan Fuller said her actions were driven by resentment over their divorce settlement. 'You become embittered by what you saw as unfair treatment,' he said.

The General Dental Council launched a nine-month investigation before clearing Mr Williamson of any wrongdoing.

How it is being reported

• Woman spared jail after blackmailing dentist ex-husband with false misconduct claimsBournemouth woman Dina Williamson spared jail after blackmailing dentist ex-husband Ben Williamson with false GDC misconduct claims over divorce money settlement.Dorset Echo · 15 Oct, 00:30
• Woman spared jail after blackmailing dentist ex-husband with false misconduct claimsBournemouth woman Dina Williamson spared jail after blackmailing dentist ex-husband Ben Williamson with false GDC misconduct claims over divorce money settlement.Bournemouth Echo · 15 Oct, 00:00

In this story: Dina Williamson · Ben Williamson · General Dental Council · Bournemouth Crown Court · Bournemouth

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem