Cancer fraudster learns her fate after conning 78 victims out of thousands of dollars: 'Reprehensible and cruel'
Amanda Maree Power, 35, started volunteering with Cancer Council Queensland in 2012, before spinning a 'web of lies' to manipulate friends and colleagues.
She began to falsely claim she was diagnosed with cancer and sought sympathy for her faked illness.
Power convinced 78 victims, including friends and colleagues, to provide financial support for trips, meals, accommodation, transport, and supposed medical bills.
Some of her victims had several cancer diagnoses themselves.
Her lies helped her secure a paid role with the council and be chosen as the first Australian Global Hero of Hope Ambassador for Relay for Life, earning her a trip to the United States.
During her sentencing at Townsville Magistrate's Court on Friday, Magistrate Steven Mosch heard Power's manipulative strategies 'chipped away' at her victims.
She built friendships and ingratiated herself into her victims' lives and offered to connect with them over their struggles, the court was told.
One example was a 54-year-old woman who was diagnosed this year with a second form of cancer.
In her impact statement to the court, she described Power's callous remark when the woman said she was losing her hair due to treatment, The Courier Mail reported.
'It's not my fault, I've only ever had the good chemo and not lost my hair,' the woman claimed Power said.
'[Power] exploited the compassion that cancer inspires and in doing so inflicted long-lasting harm on a community that relies on truth to build empathy, raise awareness and foster genuine human connection.'
The court also heard that Power told some of her victims her cancer was terminal, and requested they serve as pallbearers at her 'imminent' funeral.
The prosecution argued Power knew she was not ill and defrauded victims of nearly $24,000.
About $1,900 of this sum was taken from her former employer, Cancer Council Queensland.
Defence lawyer Nick Douglas of Legal Aid Queensland submitted psychological reports suggesting Power met the criteria for a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, Conversion Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder.
He argued she had already suffered punishment through public disgrace but accepted responsibility for her acts.
The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to all 79 charges of fraud.
She will serve a two-and-a-half year sentence.
The first six months will be served behind bars, before she is released to serve the remaining term as a suspended sentence for three years.
The court also ordered Power to repay the money to her victims.
Magistrate Mosch said Power had engaged in 'reprehensible and cruel conduct involving a web of lies that evolved over quite a number of years'.
Matt Gardiner, Cancer Council Queensland CEO, told Daily Mail no donations made to the organisation were involved in Power's con.
'Five years ago, when concerns were first raised about the personal crowdfunding page of a former employee, we immediately cooperated with the Queensland Police on the matter,' he said.
'It is important to note that no donations made to our organisation were involved.
'We are extremely grateful to those who came forward at that time, and we always encourage anyone with questions or concerns to contact us directly.'
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