Does she have any thing in writing? The first place she will need to go to is citizens advice, they will advise her if she is eligible to make a claim through the small claims court and how to do this, i understand that it does not cost much and is reletively easy to do. She should also consider sending a strongly worded letter from her solicitor saying that she plans to sue him for the money. But even though a verbal contract is valid, without something in writing it is extremely hard to prove and it could end up just being her word against his. It does sound like she has been manipulated though and is unlikely to get her money returned to her any time soon