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| Cancer lie husband 'stole years of my life' | Cancer lie husband 'stole years of my life' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman whose husband pretended to have cancer has said his years of lying "stole so much of my life". | A woman whose husband pretended to have cancer has said his years of lying "stole so much of my life". |
| Lucy Witchard, of Leicester, said David Carroll, 35, told her he had leukaemia when they met in 2006 - they married in 2011 and have since divorced. | Lucy Witchard, of Leicester, said David Carroll, 35, told her he had leukaemia when they met in 2006 - they married in 2011 and have since divorced. |
| She said in 2015 her mother gave him £2,000 for treatment in the US after he said the cancer was terminal. | She said in 2015 her mother gave him £2,000 for treatment in the US after he said the cancer was terminal. |
| Carroll was given a suspended prison sentence for fraud at Leicester Magistrates' Court last week. | Carroll was given a suspended prison sentence for fraud at Leicester Magistrates' Court last week. |
| During their four years of marriage, Carroll had also lied about having prostate and stomach cancer, but later admitted this, Ms Witchard said. | During their four years of marriage, Carroll had also lied about having prostate and stomach cancer, but later admitted this, Ms Witchard said. |
| She told the BBC Carroll would not allow her to attend chemotherapy sessions in hospital and frequently said the leukaemia got better and worse. | She told the BBC Carroll would not allow her to attend chemotherapy sessions in hospital and frequently said the leukaemia got better and worse. |
| "He would say, 'I'm protecting you from this' and I'd get too emotional being there," she said. | "He would say, 'I'm protecting you from this' and I'd get too emotional being there," she said. |
| "When I questioned his treatment he threatened to leave me saying our relationship could not work if I didn't trust him." | "When I questioned his treatment he threatened to leave me saying our relationship could not work if I didn't trust him." |
| Latest news from the East Midlands | Latest news from the East Midlands |
| The family became suspicious while Carroll was in the US - enjoying a holiday rather than receiving cancer treatment. | The family became suspicious while Carroll was in the US - enjoying a holiday rather than receiving cancer treatment. |
| The 31-year-old said she confronted him on his return but he went "ballistic" and tried to keep up the pretence. | The 31-year-old said she confronted him on his return but he went "ballistic" and tried to keep up the pretence. |
| "He even got a work friend to call me pretending to be his doctor," she said. | "He even got a work friend to call me pretending to be his doctor," she said. |
| "I knew after that phone call that our marriage was over." | "I knew after that phone call that our marriage was over." |
| Ms Witchard said she still felt "incredibly hurt and angry", as he "stole so much of my life". | Ms Witchard said she still felt "incredibly hurt and angry", as he "stole so much of my life". |
| You may also like: | You may also like: |
| Linda Eccles, Ms Witchard's mother, said she was "heartbroken and devastated" by his "lies, deceit and selfishness". | |
| "I gave Dave £2,000 to travel to America to save his life," she said. | |
| "I had the money to help my daughter's dying husband, prevent my daughter from becoming a widow." | |
| After Carroll's marriage ended, he joined Leicester rugby club, Aylestone Athletic RFC in 2015. | After Carroll's marriage ended, he joined Leicester rugby club, Aylestone Athletic RFC in 2015. |
| During a game, he suffered an injury and was treated in hospital. | During a game, he suffered an injury and was treated in hospital. |
| Former team-mate Jonathan Hunt told the BBC: "David told us later doctors discovered he had leukaemia from a blood test. | Former team-mate Jonathan Hunt told the BBC: "David told us later doctors discovered he had leukaemia from a blood test. |
| "We thought 'poor guy'. It was unfortunate. | "We thought 'poor guy'. It was unfortunate. |
| "We felt sorry for him and people regularly gave him free handouts of food and drink." | "We felt sorry for him and people regularly gave him free handouts of food and drink." |
| Mr Hunt said Carroll, who had planned to run seven marathons in seven days, later told them he was also diagnosed with a heart condition and was due to have surgery. | Mr Hunt said Carroll, who had planned to run seven marathons in seven days, later told them he was also diagnosed with a heart condition and was due to have surgery. |
| Restraining order | Restraining order |
| "The club had organised two charity fundraising events to support David's efforts as he was unable to complete the challenge himself," Mr Hunt said. | "The club had organised two charity fundraising events to support David's efforts as he was unable to complete the challenge himself," Mr Hunt said. |
| "Before the fun run, he told members his condition was terminal and could get treatment in America." | "Before the fun run, he told members his condition was terminal and could get treatment in America." |
| The 29-year-old said the club raised more than £2,000 for Barnardo's - Carroll's chosen charity for the 2016 London Marathon -"in his honour". | The 29-year-old said the club raised more than £2,000 for Barnardo's - Carroll's chosen charity for the 2016 London Marathon -"in his honour". |
| Carroll, now living in Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales, was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of fraud by false representation. | Carroll, now living in Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales, was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of fraud by false representation. |
| He was also told to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation. | He was also told to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation. |
| A 12-month restraining order means he is not allowed to contact Ms Witchard or his mother-in-law Ms Eccles. | |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |