A WOMAN who swindled thousands of pounds from generous well-wishers by pretending that a child had a serious illness has been spared jail.

Kayla Rickenberg, 27, from Leigh, admitted two offences of fraud by false representation after she used some of the £3,000 that had been raised to fund a family holiday to Turkey for her mum’s birthday.

During her sentencing yesterday, Southend Magistrates’ Court heard how people donated their cash to Rickenberg to help a young child, who she said had several tumours and required specialist treatment abroad.

The court also heard how Rickenberg told people that she needed to raise £14,000 for cancer treament.

Simon Bravery, prosecuting, said that Rickenberg claimed that the child had been treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, but that the hospital had no record of this. Southend Hospital also had no record of the illness.

Ami Hawthorn, 42, from Leigh, was duped by Rickenberg and helped to set up a Just Giving page online for the child’s treatment after hearing about the illness.

Michelle Breindell, defence barrister for Rickenberg, told the court that it was Ami Hawthorn’s idea to raise the cash and Rickenberg never approached people to ask for cash.

She said: “She (Rickenberg) felt under pressure from Ms Hawthorn.

“Ms Rickenberg did not directly ask for money but she went along with the scam.

“Ms Hawthorn transferred the money to Ms Rickenberg’s bank account but was told it would take some time.

“She later became angry and phoned social services who later contacted Essex Police and this led to Ms Rickenberg being arrested.

Paula Fisher, chairman of the bench at Southend Magistrates’ Court passed the sentence on Rickenberg.

She said that Rickenberg deliberately allowed people to be misled and used an innocent child to raise the money.

She also that she benefitted from that money, and that the sentences were suspended as she has a child who would suffer if she was sent to prison.

Rickenberg received a 36-week prison sentence suspended for two years and was also ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work.