Deceitful Partner Duped Out of £25,000 in Cancer Scam

Sarah Tulloch deceived her partner Jon Leonard into handing over nearly £25,000 for cancer treatments, but instead used the funds for breast enhancement surgery and weight-loss treatments abroad. McPherson spent the money on a lavish lifestyle, including breast enhancement surgery and holistic and weight loss treatments during holidays abroad. The court heard that McPherson had been making up having cancer since she was in secondary school long before she met Leonard. She was spared jail but handed a two-year community order.

Key Takeaways:

• McPherson falsely claimed to have cervical, ovarian, colon, bowel, and breast cancer to deceive her partner and receive thousands of pounds for alleged life-saving treatments.
• She used the funds to pay for breast enhancement surgery, holistic, and weight loss treatments during holidays abroad.
• McPherson received thousands from her partner, Mr. Leonard, between March 2017 and January 2022, claiming she needed the money for cancer treatment.
• She lied about the cancer diagnosis, including saying she was undergoing chemotherapy at the Royal Derby Hospital for cervical cancer.
• McPherson denied the charges and claimed Mr. Leonard had been controlling during their relationship before subsequently admitting to the fraud.
• Mr. Leonard felt McPherson had "stolen years" of his life and that the ordeal had "destroyed" his "faith in humanity".
• Defence barrister Laura Pitman argued that McPherson had no prior convictions and acknowledged her behavior spanned a number of years due to her battling anxiety and depression.

Statistics:

• £25,000: the amount of money McPherson deceived her partner out of for cancer treatments.
• £30,000: the value of the Rolex watch gifted to McPherson by her partner as a celebration of "getting the all-clear" from cancer.
• £30,814: the amount McPherson was ordered to repay by January 5, 2023.
• 2 years: the length of the community order handed to McPherson.
• 5 years: the length of time McPherson deceived her partner into thinking she had cancer.

Sources:

• Derby Crown Court
• Siward James-Moore, prosecutor
• Laura Pitman, defence barrister
• Jon Leonard, victim
• Derby Telegraph