A MUM who admitted faking terminal cancer to rake in £22,000 from well-wishers shouldn't be sent to jail, her family says.
Megan Scotcher, 27, lied and said she had just months to live after claiming doctors found seven tumours in her lungs.
The mum-of-two, from Ripley, Derbys, had been diagnosed with cancer three times but it was cured by surgery and chemotherapy.
A fundraising page was launched and well-wishers donated £22,000 so she could create “holiday memories” for her children.
But the conwoman instead blew the cash and has now pleaded guilty to one count of alleged fraud by false representation.
The grandmother of Scotcher's toddler son has now spoken out after his dad Jamie Corbett-Bromley was duped into setting up the fundraising page.
'SHE'S LEARNED HER LESSON'
Carole Corbett-Bromley told The Sun Online: “What she did was wrong and we’re all really shocked. My son genuinely tried to help her although they’d split up at the time as they’d just grown apart.
“But he’d been absolutely brilliant to her, helping her raise money when he thought she had terminal cancer.
“He’s very hurt by what she did, he was taken in by her, we all were, but we don’t know what her state of mind was to make her do such a thing.
“People are saying she should be jailed but I don't want to see her going to prison, she’s probably learned her lesson already. She’s admitted doing wrong, she pleaded guilty."
Carole said Scotcher was a "nice girl and good mum" who shouldn't come to "any harm".
She added: "I’m not surprised that she spent all the money but she should have paid it back. Gofundme have been fantastic and have given refunds to everyone.
“Jamie has a new girlfriend and he’s just trying to get on with his life by working hard and being a good dad.”
CANCER SCAM
Scotcher pretended to have the life-threatening illness between June and December last year.
She claimed a hospital check-up revealed her cancer had returned and said she wouldn't be able to undergo chemo again as her organs were too badly damaged.
Heartbroken friends and family began raising money so Scotcher could have a good quality of life in her final months with her sons.
Jamie then set up the GodFundMe page with with an original target of £500 that rose to £12,000 in just days.
It soon reached £22,000 as loved ones chipped in – including one well-wisher who completed a 1,000 kilometre bike ride.
Scotcher spoke at the time of her amazement as donations poured in: "It's unbelievable – I can't get over people's generosity to be honest.
"It's been mind-blowing. It's really amazing how people can come together – I still can't get over it now.
"We've been looking at nice log cabins and different places where the boys can go with the bikes. It will create some really nice memories with them."
But people soon grew suspicious as "things were not progressing as they would expect".
A relative then spoke to medical staff at the hospital where Scotcher claimed she was being treated and the mum was rumbled.
Police launched a probe and Scotcher was eventually arrested and charged with one offence of fraud by false representation in March.
She appeared at Nottingham Crown Court by video link on Thursday where she pleaded guilty to the offence.
The case was adjourned to allow for a psychiatric report on Scotcher to be prepared and is expected to be sentenced at the same court in September.
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