Gloucestershire mum jailed for pretending son had cancer to get benefits

A SON whose mum pretended he had cancer to cheat the state out of benefits has said he no longer wants to see his mum.

In a statement read to Gloucester Crown Court, the boy said: "I don't like her. I don't think she has a normal brain.

"I didn't really understand what was happening. I don't miss her any more."

The boy was just four when his mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, began her fraud.

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She shaved his head and eyebrows, put him in a wheelchair and made him wear a bandana on his head.

The 36-year-old from the Stroud area was jailed for three years and nine months yesterday.

Her fraud paid for luxuries including a holiday in Florida – where she wheeled her son around in a wheelchair so they could jump theme park queues.

In total she obtained more than £85,000.

Judge Jamie Tabor told her that her offences had "potentially caused serious long term emotional and psychological harm" to her son.

The boy has since been taken into care.

His mum admitted eight charges of fraud, one of cruelty to her son and one of forging a doctor's letter to delay court proceedings.

Joe Maloney, in mitigation, said the boy was now in "normal and good health".

His mum told his school he was seriously unwell, and teachers drew up care plans.

He was not allowed to run around and play and the school ordered in special equipment to deal with any incidents or bleeds he might suffer.

The boy's mum claimed for a Motability car and received a brand new Vauxhall Zafira to transport her son.

She even put the fake news that he had cancer on her Facebook page.

The court heard her web of lies unravelled when she separated from the boy's father.