Cheat mum jailed for subjecting kids to unnecessary surgery

[Osem]

This excuse for a mother cynically invented illnesses/conditions in order to claim vast sums in benefits over 10 years - £375k. Not only that but she coerced her children to fake symptoms and even agreed to have surgery performed on both of them in order to treat the non-existent eating disorders she'd invented.

A mother has been jailed after forcing her two young children to undergo invasive surgery so she could claim £375,000 in benefits.

The woman, from Croydon, was convicted of child cruelty and fraud at Croydon Crown Court on Monday and was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail.

The 48-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, subjected her children to unnecessary medical examinations, medicine and surgery for at least ten years.

The court heard how she told medical professionals her children had asthma, autism, urology problems and gastric complications, causing them both to undergo surgery to have gastronomy tubes fitted despite being able to eat normally.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime...-a3320756.html

The sentence? Just 7.5 years! It's a pity she can't be named and shamed but I imagine that's to do with protecting the children.

What do you even say to that? Bizarre and horrible. People's minds can be so broken....

Putting money over your kids is just beyond my comprehension she got off way too light and should be unable to ever claim benefits again.

[Osem]

What's the betting that those poor children saw very little benefit from the money she stole from the taxpayer. Clearly some people aren't above having and using their children purely as a means by which to derive income, benefits, housing etc.

Munchausen Syndrome with benefits..horrible situation..

[alanbjames]

My Sons Ex, His mum had him committed for mental health reasons as a teenager when there was nothing wrong with him but all the drugs he has since been subjected to has had a really bad affect on his mental health.