Cancer conman jailed for dying lies

[dutchman]

A mean conman is starting a 20 month prison sentence after telling people – including his own family – that he had terminal cancer.



Simon Swift, 39, told his wife and three teenage kids he only had months to live and sold tickets worth hundreds of pounds for a fake charity event.

The dad-of-three, nicknamed Shifty Swifty, formerly of Lauderdale Close, Long Lawford, near Rugby, even shaved his hair and claimed marks on his neck were from radiotherapy.

Shops donated items for a fictitious charity auction, while one pal even organised a parachute jump.

But Swift’s deceit began to unravel after his story hit the local headlines and people became suspicious, a judge at the crown court at Leamington Justice Centre heard yesterday.

Cancer doctors at Coventry’s University Hospital said they had never heard of him and officials at Rugby Lions RFC – where the charity event was due to be held – were concerned over a “lack of preparation”.

Swift, a former surveyor, who has seven previous convictions for dishonesty, admitted six counts of fraud and theft and was jailed for 20 months.

Judge Christopher Hodson told him: “These were mean offences that preyed on the emotions of others.

“You made money out of this, you gained sympathy and publicity.

“People may have thought you were decent, but nothing could be further from the truth. You are nothing but a conman and a fraudster.”

The court heard Swift went to hospital in April last year after hurting his ribs in a play-fight at home, but returned claiming he had a tumour in his spine, brain and bones and only had six months to live.