Cancer scam Stroud mother faces jail for benefit fraud
A mother from Gloucestershire who pretended her son had cancer in order to claim benefits has been warned she faces jail.
The Stroud woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, kept up the pretence for three years while the boy was aged between four and seven, a court heard.
She shaved his hair and eyebrows to look like the effects of chemotherapy and claimed about £50,000 in benefits.
The case at Gloucester Crown Court was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.
Jail 'almost certain'
The woman was released on bail until 2 November when she will be sentenced.
Judge Jamie Tabor told the woman she faces "almost certain imprisonment".
Benefits the woman claimed included disability living allowance and carers' allowance, as well as child tax credits, by falsely saying her children were living with her.
She admitted one count of child cruelty, eight counts of fraud and one of forgery by faking doctors' letters, relating to the period between June 2008 and May 2010.