Boxing Promoter Scammed Out of £25,000 by Girlfriend Who Faked Cancer – Despite Raising Funds for Cancer Research
Laura McPherson, a 35-year-old mother from Derby, deceived her family for over five years by falsely claiming to have terminal breast cancer. She convinced her partner, Jon Leonard, to give her nearly £25,000, which she instead spent on cosmetic procedures and weight loss treatments.
McPherson fabricated doctor visits and staged chemotherapy photos to make her lies more convincing. Leonard, a boxing promoter who has also raised significant funds for charity, was among those she manipulated. Her deception also impacted her teenage daughter, who frequently became distressed at school, fearing for her mother’s life. Speaking to the court, Leonard said: “The school would regularly call me to say she had been crying and upset because she was worried her mum would die.”
Judge Jonathan Straw condemned McPherson, calling her a “wicked and devious liar.” Addressing her in court as she wept, he said: “You told those closest to you that you had been diagnosed with and were suffering from terminal forms of cancer.” He further criticized her actions, stating: “It is difficult to imagine how an individual could be so calculating and cruel to those that loved and cared for her. It was a deliberate, narcissistic route to attention and money.”
What did she use the money for?
McPherson admitted to fraud, having falsely claimed to suffer from breast, bowel, ovarian, colon, and cervical cancer to obtain money.
In total, Leonard gave her £24,248.52, believing it was for medical treatment. Instead, she used the money for a weight loss program in Austria and a breast augmentation procedure in Manchester. In an emotional impact statement, Leonard accused McPherson of “gaslighting” him. “Even after pleading guilty, she has spent the last three years spreading disgusting lies about me,” he said. “And she has never shown any remorse.”
Although the couple separated three years ago, Leonard allowed McPherson to stay in his home due to concerns about her health. Her deception fell apart when she requested over £7,000 for a mastectomy. When Leonard contacted the doctor to pay the bill, he discovered that she had actually undergone breast enhancement surgery.
As a result, McPherson was sentenced to a two-year community service order, placed under a curfew from 7 pm to 6 am, and required to wear an electronic tag. Any violation of these conditions could result in imprisonment.
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