Court told mother faked son's cancer diagnosis to cover her overspending
The woman's husband told the court his wife's actions had destroyed the family. Their faces have been blurred for legal reasons. (Supplied)
In short:
A woman had been living a "keeping-up-with-the-Jones's lifestyle" when she falsely portrayed that her son had cancer "to selfishly ease her financial stress", a court has heard.
Her defence lawyer says her actions "took away" her children's innocence.
What's next?
The mother will be sentenced in April.
An Adelaide mother who faked her six-year-old son's cancer diagnosis to raise money was "living the life of the rich and famous", despite serious financial struggles, a court has heard.
The 45-year-old previously pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in acts likely to cause harm to her young son and 10 counts of deception after her arrest for falsely portraying that her son had cancer.
Prosecutor Annie O'Sullivan told the court on Monday that the mother-of-two's actions "resulted in him experiencing pain and distress".
"[She] amongst other things caused [her son] to unnecessarily wear bandages to his head and hands, shaved his hair and eyebrows, administered medications despite his protestations and imposed unnecessary restrictions in his activities," she told the court.
A lawyer for the woman told the court her client "capitalised" on an accident to fabricate that her son had cancer.
"[Her son's] accident, which triggered the ophthalmologist appointment in the first place, was capitalised on by [her] and selfishly [she] used her son, and by extension her daughter, as props to deceive friends, family and the wider community," she said.
"From there, [she] started to deceive her family and friends and wider school community that [her son] was diagnosed with eye cancer and requested donations.
"It was never [her] intention to cause harm or distress to her children, rather a monumental and grave lapse in judgement to selfishly ease her financial stress."
The court heard the woman made her son wear bandages, shave his head and take medications he didn't need. (Supplied)
The lawyer said the 45-year-old's family was struggling financially at the time but that she was living a "keeping-up-with-the-Jones's lifestyle".
"She regrettably spent more than her earnings allowed and was living beyond her means," she said.
"[She] operated under the foolish and misguided [belief] that her family needed the latest brands and fashions and technologies to live a fulfilled life.
"The family of four were living the life of the rich and famous to those from the outside."
She said the mother had also developed a gambling addiction because of "boredom" during the COVID-19 pandemic, which added to their financial issues.
Family life destroyed
The lawyer added the children's father "had no knowledge" of the crimes.
The court heard the 45-year-old had recently been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and "wholeheartedly accepts" her wrongdoing but that her "insight is lacking, in some respects".
"[She] has robbed her children of any sense of normality and took away their innocence,"the defence lawyer said.
"[She is] wanting to rehabilitate herself with the primary goal of being reunified with her [children].
"There is no excuse for the offending and [she] takes full responsibility for her actions."
The District Court heard the woman had been living a "keeping-up-with-the-Jones's lifestyle". (ABC News: Che Chorley)
The children's father read a victim impact statement to the court in which he said his wife's actions had destroyed his family's life.
"Because of what you did, I want you to know that you've destroyed me and my children's lives. We've had to rebuild everything," he said.
"I had complete trust in you as my wife and I never doubted you. I was devoted to our family. Now I feel like a pawn in a chess game."
He said his children were not the same after the offending.
"When I've had to give [my son] Nurofen for some ailment he has broken down when he has remembered being forced to take medication," he said.
A community victim impact statement prepared by victims' rights commissioner Sarah Quick and read aloud to the court by the prosecutor, said that members of the community felt betrayed.
"Crimes of this kind have significant, devastating and often lasting impacts for victims and the community," she said.
"One community member stated: 'She has affected a lot of good people in the community who went above and beyond to help her, not knowing it was only to feed her own needs, and she was not thinking about anyone but herself'.
"Community members indicated they would like to see the defendant receive a sentence that reflects the full consequences of her actions."
The woman's lawyer asked that her client to receive a suspended sentence, however the prosecutor requested an immediate term of imprisonment.
The 45-year-old will be sentenced next month.