Mother lied about her child having a terminal illness in order to deceive a charity named after a 3-year-old who died from the same disease.

Natalie Ridler, a devoted mother, was left feeling devastated and betrayed when she discovered that a woman had been exploiting her charity, named after her late son Morgan, who tragically passed away from cancer at just three years old. It was a heartless act, as the woman had faked her own child's cancer diagnosis in order to receive thousands of pounds from the charity.

Charlotte Blackwell, the woman responsible for this cruel scam, had targeted the fund that was set up in memory of little Morgan. His parents had worked tirelessly to raise money to support other families going through similar struggles, but their kindness was taken advantage of by Blackwell. She had approached Natalie, claiming that her own child, who had previously been ill, had relapsed and was now in need of palliative care.

Natalie, still grieving the loss of her son, was emotionally vulnerable and was easily manipulated by Blackwell's lies. She even set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the supposed treatment, which prompted Natalie to offer both financial and emotional support. However, it soon became clear that Blackwell's claims were completely false, leaving Natalie feeling sick and betrayed.

Describing the heart-wrenching experience, Natalie said, "They had essentially groomed me for two weeks while my heart was breaking for them." She couldn't believe that someone could be so cruel and manipulative, especially towards a family who had already been through so much pain. Blackwell, from Bridgend, South Wales, pleaded guilty to fraud but managed to avoid jail time. Instead, she received a suspended sentence.

Natalie expressed her disappointment in the justice system, stating that Blackwell had preyed on her and her family during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. She also revealed that Blackwell had directly messaged her charity supporters, asking for money. It was only then that Natalie realized the extent of the scam and decided to investigate further.

As it turned out, Blackwell's child had been treated at the same hospital as Morgan, which was why they had passed the initial checks of the charity. However, her child had been in remission for some time and had no active treatment or terminal prognosis. It was all a lie. Thankfully, the funds that had been released to Blackwell were frozen and recovered, causing no financial loss to the charity.

Natalie was appalled by Blackwell's actions, especially knowing that she herself had been through the same struggle with her own child. She said, "They had behaved abhorrently over a number of weeks, knowing they were lying and taking advantage of me." Blackwell was ultimately sentenced to a 10-month suspended sentence, a four-month curfew monitored by a tag, and 180 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £150 in costs and a surcharge.

Morgan's passing had left a huge void in Natalie's life, and the fact that someone could exploit his memory for their own gain was heart-wrenching. He had been diagnosed with a rare and complex form of cancer at the young age of two and had passed away just days before his fourth birthday. Natalie, alongside her family and friends, had been working tirelessly to raise awareness and support other families going through similar struggles. And to have that kindness and generosity taken advantage of was a betrayal that Natalie would never forget.

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