Raynor Winn, author of the bestselling memoir The Salt Path, has denied fresh allegations that she stole money from relatives, describing the claims as part of a 'false narrative' about her life. The allegations, reported by The Observer and featured in a Sky documentary, include a letter allegedly written by Winn confessing to taking £25,000 from her husband's parents.
Winn's niece claims the letter was given to her by Winn's sister before her death last year. The letter purportedly states: 'Please don't look any further for the money. I've taken it. All of it.' Winn has strongly denied writing the letter or stealing from family, saying: 'I did not steal from family, as others can confirm. Nor have I confessed to doing so and I did not write the letter suggesting I did.'
The latest claims follow earlier accusations that Winn fabricated aspects of her 2018 memoir, which describes walking the South West Coast Path with her husband after losing their home and his terminal diagnosis. An Observer investigation alleged that the couple lost their home after Winn took out a private mortgage to repay tens of thousands of pounds she was accused of taking from an employer. Medical experts have also questioned the claim that long-distance walking reversed her husband's symptoms.
In a statement, Winn reiterated that her husband's diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration is a fact, and that the couple lost their home due to 'a financial dispute with a lifelong friend'. She expressed sadness that the media is 'seeking to drive a wedge between our family members'. Winn has reportedly made millions from sales of the book and its film adaptation.
