Parents accused of faking six-year-old son's cancer to raise £30,000

The mum allegedly shared that her boy would be going through treatment for eye cancer on social media. They raised about £30,000 in a few short weeks

A couple who told the world their six-year-old son had cancer have been charged by police over the "cruel" money-making endeavour.

The mum allegedly shared that her boy would be going through treatment for eye cancer on social media about three weeks ago. The next day, the couple, both aged 44, allegedly set up a crowdfunding page and pleaded for donations for their son's ongoing treatment.

Officers say the Australian pair raised around $60,000 - about £30,000 - through friends, family and the child's private school in a relatively short time. The mum, who works at a hairdresser, also allegedly asked a colleague to help shave her son's hair and eyebrows off.

The parents were reported to police on November 26 and an investigation began. It is reported that the child was seen with bandages and sat in a wheelchair. Officers confirmed that the boy was not being treated for cancer.

Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia told Nine News in Australia: "I couldn't think of a more devious or cruel scheme that the parents have done to their own child. It's abhorrent that people would seek to profit for their own greed and selfishness from such an insidious disease as cancer which impacts so many families in our community."

Mr DeCandia said that both the six-year-old boy and his sibling had been removed from their parents and placed with a relative as a short-term measure. He added: "We believe this farce illness is causing significant and serious psychological harm to the child and their sibling."

The children will be receiving ongoing support from the Department of Child Protection and Child Protection Services to deal with the alleged "traumatic" events. The parents are both now facing two counts each of criminal neglect and deceiving another to benefit self.

The pair has already appeared in court, the mother was kept in custody, while the father, who the court heard was less involved in the alleged scam, was bailed. Police have asked anyone with information or who believes they have donated money to the family to contact them.