By Blessing Nweke
An Australian mother has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after admitting she faked her six-year-old son’s cancer diagnosis to solicit donations and support a lavish lifestyle.
The 45-year-old woman from South Australia, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in acts likely to cause harm to her child and 10 counts of deception. On Wednesday, a District Court judge condemned her actions as “cruel,” “calculated,” and “manipulative.”
The court heard the deception began after the boy visited an ophthalmologist following an accident. The mother subsequently told her husband, relatives, and members of the school community that her son had eye cancer. To maintain the ruse, she shaved his head and eyebrows, forced him to use a wheelchair, and restricted his activities to mimic the effects of cancer treatment.
Prosecutors said she medicated the child and used bandages to reinforce the illusion, successfully convincing others to donate thousands of dollars. The funds were then used to finance an extravagant lifestyle, described in court as living “the life of the rich and famous.”
Her defense lawyer argued that she developed a gambling addiction after the Covid-19 pandemic and acted out of financial desperation rather than malice. The court also heard she had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and had shown remorse by pleading guilty.
However, the judge ruled the harm caused was severe, particularly to the child and family. In a victim impact statement, her husband said she had “destroyed” their lives and left him feeling manipulated and betrayed.
She was sentenced to four years and three months in prison and will be eligible for parole in April next year.
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