Man sentenced for fake cancer GoFundMe fraud

The man was sentenced at Bishop Street courthouse on Friday

A man who faked cancer and spent more than £3,000 in donations has been sentenced in Londonderry.

Stephen Patrick Doherty, 29, from Lisnafin Park in Strabane, admitted one charge of fraud by false representation on dates between 7 January 2022 and 20 June 2023.

Londonderry Magistrates’ Court was told that Doherty had told police he had committed fraud by claiming to have three different cancers.

Doherty told the court a GoFundMe page set up on his behalf had raised £3,280 which he spent on a dog and travelling to watch Liverpool FC.

The fundraising page, Doherty said, had been set up by a friend “acting in good faith”.

Doherty told police he was coming forward as the local community had discovered he was not ill.

He also did not want the female who set up the fundraising page to be blamed.

The court was told the woman who set up the page was “really upset”, had no contact with the accused and felt she had been “taken advantage of”.

A prosecutor told the court Doherty “knew he didn't have cancer when the page was set up".

'Limited options'

A defence barrister told the court it was difficult to find the right adjective to describe Doherty’s offending.

There was no doubt, he added, it was so serious “there could be an immediate custodial sentence".

He said Doherty wanted to apologise for his actions and had handed himself in to police.

Passing sentence, deputy District Judge Alan White said there were limited options open to the court.

He imposed an enhanced combination order of 18 months’ probation and 100 hours of community service.,

The judge also ordered Doherty to pay £250 in compensation to the woman who set up the fundraising page and £400 in compensation to the Foyle Hospice.