A former reality TV star has been found guilty of carrying out illegal teeth whitening after a sting operation.
Chelsey Harwood, 30, who was jailed last year for fraudulently claiming £25,000 in benefits, offered cut-price treatments on Facebook and Instagram.
The 30-year-old advertised a mobile Teeth whitening by Chelsey service – despite being warned it was illegal unless performed by dental professionals.
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Harwood, from St Helens, was caught out by undercover investigators from the General Dental Council (GDC), who she berated when they revealed their true identity.
She failed to answer a summons requiring her to attend Liverpool Magistrates Court yesterday and was proven guilty in her absence.
Jennifer Stewart, prosecuting, said Harwood was not registered with the GDC and never had been, meaning she was breaking the law.
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She said: The investigation was brought about following numerous complaints earlier this year.
Ms Stewart added: [The Liverpool Echo] informed the GDC she was offering illegal teeth whitening using the platforms of Facebook and Instagram to advertise the services.
She called herself a demonstrator as opposed to a teeth whitener and claimed to have spoken to a solicitor, saying she was someone who does sales and does not perform dentistry.
When approached by the Echo in January, Harwood claimed she was simply selling products under a brand endorsed by the cast of reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex.
She said at the time: I do not touch the patient. I hand them the mouth guard, they put it in their own mouth, they put the light to their own mouth. I am acting as a private citizen.
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However, the GDC, which received 21 further complaints from dentists an members of the public, contacted Harwood covertly and arranged an appointment.
She asked an investigator to pay a £20 booking fee for two people and agreed to meet at Premier Suites in Hatton Garden, Liverpool city centre, on February 12.
Harwood arrived, explained the process, provided advice and said she would carry out the teeth whitening, confirming a price of £270 for the pair.
Ms Stewart said: Curiously, she asked they note down £45 on the consent form. She said she asked everybody to write that down but confirmed the price was £270.
She said they could wear protective glasses but it was not necessary because of the laser light she used.
She gave aftercare advice about smoking and food. She said as long as they brushed their teeth after smoking, they would be okay.
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District Judge Wendy Lloyd said this was wrong, as was Harwoods claim the legal age for teeth whitening was 16, which is in fact 18.
Harwood used a colour chart to identify the shade of the investigators teeth and boasted of past successes before they challenged her ahead of the treatment.
Ms Stewart said: She was cautioned and responded “you cant keep me here against my will, I dont have to listen to you, I havent done anything wrong, you signed the form”.
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Harwood was found guilty of being an unregistered person carrying on the business of dentistry on January 27 and practising as a registered dentist or dental care professional on February 12.
Judge Lloyd said: This can have devastating effects if it goes wrong. It can rot your teeth away.
She added: This lady was going about a business which could have done all sorts of harm it seems to underage as well as overage people.
The judge said Harwood would be sentenced on May 3, when the maximum punishment would be an unlimited fine.
She said if Harwood again failed to attend, she would be unable to assess her means, but would pass sentence in her absence.
Judge Lloyd said: She certainly seemed to have the trappings of success around her.
This could be a very heavy fine and obviously therefore I do want her to have the opportunity of giving her financial affairs. Obviously if she doesnt [appear again], there couldnt possibly be a third chance.
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Harwood could also be ordered to pay prosecution costs, which so far stand at £2,900.
The former This is Liverpool star was initially spared jail when she admitted falsely claiming employment support allowance and housing benefit in April 2017.
Harwood was handed four months in prison, suspended for two years, plus a two-year supervision order, including 100 hours of unpaid work and a home curfew.
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But she failed to attend community service after refusing to get the bus with scallies and saying she had received threats related to her convictions.
Judge Andrew Menary, QC, jailed her for three months after an extraordinary courtroom outburst when she yelled: Send me to jail!
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