A mother-of-four who faked having cancer and ripped off sports organisations and charities in a bid to scam $45,000 has been sentenced to at least nine months behind bars.
Melissa Irene Quinn previously pleaded guilty to making and using a false document to obtain a financial advantage and dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
Before the 34-year-old’s guilty plea, police alleged she raised tens of thousands of dollars after claiming cancer diagnoses including ovarian cancer and chronic myeloid leukaemia in the space of two years.
Melissa Irene Quinn (pictured) faked having cancer and ripped off sports organisations and charities in a bid to scam $45,000 has been sentenced to at least nine months behind bars
The mother-of-four previously pleaded guilty to making and using a false document to obtain a financial advantage and dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception
In 2014, the accomplished cricketer told a local newspaper in northern New South Wales she had inoperable brain cancer and chances were she had only two years to live.
‘I had cancer two-and-a-half years ago in the uterus, so it wasn’t a huge surprise that it’s come back,’ she told The Northern Star.
‘But I am still overwhelmed and scared.’
The woman, who once played for NSW women’s under-19 cricket team, claimed she could only be treated in the United States with proton therapy where she swindled about $45,000 from the local community.
Quinn was one of 10 Australians chosen to receive government-funded proton therapy at $200,00 per patient.
The fraud even fooled former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke into donating to her cause by signing and framing shirts for a fundraiser.
The mother-of-four kept up the ruse by updating her followers on Facebook on the fake procedures.
In Casino Local Court on Wednesday, magistrate David Heilpern sentenced Quinn to two years in jail with a non-parole period of nine months after stating her motivation was ‘greed, not need’.
Before the 34-year-old’s (right) guilty plea, police alleged she raised tens of thousands of dollars after claiming cancers including ovarian cancer and chronic myeloid leukaemia
The woman claimed she could only be treated in the United States with proton therapy where she swindled about $45,000 from the local community and updated them on Facebook
‘It was all false, it was all a lie,’ he said.
‘(In) fact she didn’t have cancer, she used the money for a holiday. The level of dishonesty is simply mind-boggling.’
The bogus scheme ended when colleagues noticed a doctor’s certificate she submitted was sent through a Gmail account, 9News previously reported.
The doctor confirmed he had not written the email after she was reported to local police.
The cancer journey, which proved to be a web of lies, was widely reported across Australia including a feature on ABC’s program 7.30.
The 34-year-old was ordered to pay more than $20,000 in compensation, including $10,000 to the Kerry Packer Cricket Foundation, $5000 to Cabramatta Rugby League Club and the NSW Cricket Association.
After sentencing, the former cricketer was granted bail pending an appeal.
Her appeal has been listed for hearing at Lismore Local Court on July 24.
After sentencing, the former cricketer (right) was granted bail pending an appeal and is expected to be heard at Lismore Local Court on July 24