Brantford doula fraudster Kaitlyn Braun sentenced to five years in prison

A Brantford woman who faked multiple pregnancies and defrauded several doulas will spend the remainder of her initial two-year sentence in police custody, as well as three more years for new crimes.

Kaitlyn Braun was sentenced Monday at the John Sopinka Courthouse in Hamilton.

The 26-year-old was arrested in March 2023 and faced numerous charges for falsifying pregnancies and stillbirths in order to utilize doula services between June 2022 and February 2023.

In December 2023, Braun pleaded guilty in Brantford to 21 charges, including fraud, indecent acts, false pretences and mischief.

Following a joint submission by the defence and Crown, Braun was sentenced in February 2024 to two years of house arrest and three years of probation.

WATCH MORE: Victims read impact statements at sentencing of Brantford doula fraudster

The judge expressed his displeasure with the joint submission and concern she would reoffend.

Less than three months into her house arrest, Hamilton police arrested Braun and charged her with similar offences. She contacted an organization in the city that supports parents in crisis and another doula.

She pleaded guilty in January to two counts of obtaining by false pretence services under $5,000, two harassment-related charges and breach of a conditional sentencing order.

In going over the evidence Monday, Justice Joseph Fiorucci said Braun’s actions had a “significant impact on victims” and she “poses a significant and continuing threat to the community.”

A psychiatric report found Braun had borderline personality disorder.

WATCH MORE: Brantford doula fraudster sentenced to 2 years house arrest, 3 years probation

Over time, the judge said Braun made 178 hospital visits for faked issues and around 60 false sexual assault allegations, including against doctors treating her.

Fiorucci said the hope is that Braun will get the right therapy in the penitentiary as she finishes serving her original two-year sentence behind bars, plus her additional three years for the latest crimes.

But people affected by her actions aren’t optimistic.

“She’s going to choose to hurt people and she’s going to continue to make that choice regardless of what therapy she gets into,” said one doula outside the courthouse.

“I feel that it would have been better if she had received a sentence in a mental health facility where she can receive the treatment and the help that she needs,” said another doula.

Braun sat in the prisoner’s box throughout the hearing, mostly hanging her head and staring at the floor in front of her.

READ MORE: Brantford doula fraudster pleads guilty again to similar crimes