Cambridge mum who lied about son’s cancer diagnosis and pocketed donations avoids jail

A Cambridge mother who lied that her child had cancer and pocketed more than £200 in donations has avoided time behind bars.

Suspicions were raised about Karen Morley, 36, by her son’s Cambridge school on 5 September 2022 and a safeguarding referral was made.

Staff noted the boy was supposedly diagnosed with cancer in January 2022 and, during the remaining school year, had taken a lot of time off.

However, it had never been shown any corroborating information from the NHS and when Morley was asked to provide evidence, a fake NHS letter was sent in as “proof”.

Investigations by health services revealed there was no record of the boy ever having cancer. Police and social care visited the family, noting the young boy had the appearance of someone undergoing cancer treatment.

His hair was cut very short and there were bald patches within the hair there was. The boy also appeared slim and gaunt and said his mum had told him he had cancer.

He told police he had to take medicine for the illness in the form of a “hot” berry-flavoured sweet, together with milkshakes to help him put on weight. The sweets were later found to be multivitamins.

The boy was placed into police protection and Morley, of Engledow Drive, Cambridge, was arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

In police interview, Morley denied ever telling her son, the school or anyone else that he had cancer and denied giving him any medication.

However, when she was challenged, she admitted telling the school her son “might have cancer” and claimed this was because he did not want to go to school due to bullying fears.

She said there was a long line of misunderstandings which had been taken out of context. Morley also claimed the NHS letter had been given to her by staff at Cambridge’s Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Following the interview, further investigations revealed Morley had spoken to the school on at least seven occasions detailing his cancer diagnosis and treatment.

She had also openly spoken about the boy’s cancer in school meetings and told other parents about the diagnosis.

Morley had posted a lot on social media about the cancer, but following her police interview these social media accounts were wiped, and all evidence of the posts were deleted.

Morley’s own family had also been told the same lies and a JustGiving fundraiser was set up by a kind-hearted woman, after conversations with Morley. The fundraiser raised £218 which was transferred into Morley’s bank account in April 2022.

A hairdresser had also refused to take payment and shaved the boy’s hair for free after Morley told him he had cancer.

Morley was charged with child neglect and two counts of fraud. She pleaded guilty to the charges at the first opportunity during a hearing in October, and was sentenced at Huntingdon Law Courts on Wednesday (2 April) where she was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to complete a 30-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a 12-month mental health treatment requirement.

Sentencing Judge David Farrell said Morley’s son had suffered “psychological, developmental and emotional harm” and continues to do so – and missed out on his education.

He added that a psychiatric report highlighted Morley’s decision to offend in this way was “intrinsically linked to her profound mental health challenges” and said the expert evidence noted it was unlikely she would have behaved in this way if she did not have these mental issues.

Judge Farrell noted mitigating factors which included Morley’s early guilty plea, her previous good character and remorse. He said he felt able to suspend the prison sentence due to a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation”.

Det Sgt Mark Williamson, from the force’s Child Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (CAISU), said: “This case will no doubt be shocking to everyone who hears about it and Morley’s deceit is almost beyond belief.

“The boy at the heart of this case was told he never had cancer, and since then has really struggled and questioned why his own mother would do this to him. He is now in the care of the local authority.

“This case highlights our work to protect children across Cambridgeshire - work that often goes on behind the scenes or the details of which are sometimes too sensitive to share.”