A BENEFITS fraudster has been jailed for lying about having terminal cancer and telling her own mum she had just three months to live.
Hanna Dickinson, from Melbourne, Australia, was slapped with a year-long sentence in Victoria Crown Court for spinning a “disgusting” web of lies about her health.
2
2
The court heard that Hanna had forged medical documents in order to claim over £55,069 in disability pension across four years.
She told Australia’s social security payments system Centrelink that she had a bowel tumour and soft tissue sarcoma of the shoulder – and had just three months to live.
Ms Dickinson, a property agent, had even faked a letter from a colorectal surgeon at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, claiming that surgery was her best chance of survival.
The dodgy letter read: “Hanna’s form of cancer is very rare.
“As for treatment I would highly recommend surgery as it is her best chance.”
‘MOTIVATED BY GREED’
The court heard that Dickinson got an adrenaline rush from lying, and had fantasised about making more friends after getting rich, Bellingen Courier reports.
Cops discovered she was lying when her payments were data-matched with Australian Taxation information.
She pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining advantage by deception.
Sentencing, Judge Dawes told the court: “This was a sustained and deliberate fraud against the social welfare system … it was motivated by greed.
“I consider your conduct disgraceful.”
XMAS THREES
3 households WILL be able to meet for Christmas for 5 days – but not in the pub
SYMPTOM CHECKER
The most common Covid symptom revealed – and it’s NOT a dry cough
‘INDESCRIBABLE PAIN’
Boy, 10, dies to become one of Britain’s youngest Covid victims
SENDING A MESSAGE
Donald Trump sends B-52 nuke bombers to Middle East in warning to Iran
SICK NOPE
Brits should take MORE sick days & stop ‘soldiering on’ when ill, says Hancock
END IN TIERS
What tier will I be in? Hotspots that could enter Tier 3 when lockdown ends
In addition to the jail sentence, Dickinson will have to pay £50,761 of illegally obtained funds.
It comes after Dickinson was handed a non-custodial sentence in 2018 for conning friends and family for £23,000 for treatment for a cancer she didn’t have.
She breached that after falsifying documents for a £16,520 car loan – and was jailed in June that year for eight months.
