UK Woman Faked Terminal Cancer for 5 Years, Scammed Partner Out of Thousands

Laura McPherson, a British mother of two, pleaded guilty to fraud after spending five years pretending to have terminal cancer - deceiving her partner, Jon Leonard, and her own pre-teen daughter. From 2017, McPherson told Leonard, a charity fundraiser who had raised millions for cancer organizations, that she had been diagnosed with breast, bowel, colon, ovarian, and cervical cancer. Over five years, he transferred nearly £25,000 (about $32,000) to cover her alleged treatment costs. McPherson staged photographs of herself appearing to undergo chemotherapy and surgeries, including a hysterectomy and mastectomy, while spending the money on breast enhancement surgery, overseas spa trips, and weight-loss therapies at private wellness retreats such as Austria’s Mayr Clinic.

How the Lie Unraveled

In December 2021, Leonard dropped McPherson at the Royal Derby Hospital for what she claimed was cervical cancer treatment. Instead of checking in, she took a taxi to Coventry, roughly 35 miles away. That inconsistency prompted Leonard to investigate her claims - and confirmed she had never been sick. McPherson had also manipulated her daughter into believing she was dying; the child’s school contacted Leonard on multiple occasions after the girl broke down in tears. Leonard later told the court: “I honestly feel she has stolen years of my life from me. Her actions have been diabolical; almost everything she told me was a lie.”

Sentence

On March 12, 2025, Derby Crown Court sentenced McPherson to two years of community service, a 30-day rehabilitation requirement, a nightly curfew five nights a week, and mandatory probation oversight. She avoided jail. A separate Proceeds of Crime hearing may require her to forfeit remaining funds or assets. Judge Jonathan Straw told her: “McPherson, you are a wicked and devious liar who embarked on five years of deceit. It is difficult to imagine how an individual could be so calculated and cruel to those who loved and cared for her.”

References: Mom Faked Cancer to Swindle Partner Out of $32,000 for ‘Treatment,’ Spent Money on Breast Surgery: Reports | Mum lied about fighting cancer so she could con boyfriend out of £25k | Mother deceived partner out of £25,000 by faking terminal cancer for five years