Cancer fraudster faces another jail term
A Melbourne woman who faked having cancer and scammed money from friends and family has been jailed for eight months.
Hanna Dickenson, 26, was ordered to serve eight months in prison by Victorian County Court Judge Paul Lacava for breaching a “lenient” sentence and continuing to defraud those around her.
Dickenson was jailed for three months in 2018 after she convinced her parents to give her money for cancer treatments.
Dickenson’s parents rallied up $42,000 from neighbours and friends, but she spent the cash to party with friends, go on overseas holidays purchase alcohol and drugs, a court heard.
Following a successful appeal against the jail term, she received a two-year community corrections order, which required her to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and undergo drug and mental health treatment.
Last year, Dickenson breached the order after she attempted to falsify documents to get a $30,000 car loan. She was sentenced to another three-month prison term in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, but immediately appealed the decision.
This month, the court heard Dickenson is facing other charges, including using other people’s identity to acquire mobile phones and a Commonwealth offence relating to the disability pension.
“You did not take the opportunity to rehabilitate yourself or to learn from your mistakes,” Judge Lacava said.
The judge re-sentenced Dickenson for the crimes on Monday. “The public needs to be protected from you and you will be sent to prison,” he said.