Darren Altham pretended to have cancer to scam family into giving him money

Darren Altham pretended he was dying of cancer so his dad would fork out on a £2,000 trip to America “before he died”.

The 33-year-old from Heywood told his family that he was to undergo treatment at The Christie Hospital and said he’d been diagnosed with a terminal illness – all so he could go on a trip to see his online girlfriend in the USA.

Altham used a lump on his arm to build his story, even though there is no medical indication that he is suffering from the disease.

Suspicions arose when Altham left for his trip and dad Trevor noticed money missing from his account. It turned out that despite giving him £2,000, Altham had also stolen an extra £600 to book his flights.

Police arrested Altham at Manchester Airport on his return where he denied making up having cancer. He later admitted his wrongdoing and handed himself in.

Altham was given a 24-week sentence, suspended for two years for fraud by false representation and ordered to pay back £500 of the £2,621 he owes to his dad, as he is unemployed.

He was handed three separate 18-week sentences for two other counts of fraud.