This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-20311470

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mother who shaved son's head in cancer scam is jailed Mother who shaved son's head in cancer scam jailed
(about 2 hours later)
A mother from Gloucestershire who pretended her son had cancer in order to claim benefits has been jailed. A mother who shaved off her son's hair to pretend he had cancer has been jailed for three years and nine months.
The woman, who cannot be named, kept up the pretence for three years while the boy was aged between four and seven, a court heard. The woman from Gloucestershire kept up the pretence for almost three years while the boy was aged six to eight in order to claim extra benefits, Gloucester Crown Court heard.
She admitted one count of child cruelty, eight counts of fraud and one of forgery by faking doctors' letters.She admitted one count of child cruelty, eight counts of fraud and one of forgery by faking doctors' letters.
The 36-year-old woman from the Stroud area was jailed for three years and nine months at Gloucester Crown Court. The woman, who cannot be named, claimed disability and carer's allowances.
The court heard she shaved his hair and eyebrows to mimic the effects of chemotherapy and claimed tens of thousands of pounds in benefits. The woman even put her son in a wheelchair while on holiday in Florida so they could jump queues at a theme park, the court heard.
These included disability living allowance and carers' allowance, as well as child tax credits, by falsely saying her children were living with her. Jailing the 36-year-old, Judge Jamie Tabor said: "You shaved his head and paraded him in public as a victim of cancer.
"I have no doubt that there have been periods in your life when you have been unwell but also I have no doubt that you have all but lost the ability to tell the truth."
The court was told the woman shaved off her son's hair and eyebrows to mimic the effects of chemotherapy and claimed £85,899.44 in benefits.
These included disability living allowance and carers' allowance, as well as child tax credits claimed by falsely saying other children were living with her.