LISA HAYDEN FROM BRIXHAM JAILED FOR SICK SON CON IN DEVON

In a shocking case that has captured national attention, Lisa Hayden, a 35-year-old woman from Brixham, Devon, was sentenced to over three years in prison for her involvement in a cruel and elaborate deception involving her young son. The court heard that Hayden-Johnson subjected her son, who is now eight years old and resides in a different part of the country, to a relentless campaign of fabricated illnesses and medical procedures, all aimed at garnering sympathy, publicity, and financial gain.

According to the evidence presented at Exeter Crown Court, Hayden-Johnson falsely claimed that her son suffered from a wide array of serious health conditions, including diabetes, food allergies, cerebral palsy, and cystic fibrosis. Her actions led to her son undergoing a staggering total of 325 medical interventions, which included being confined to a wheelchair, fed through a stomach tube, and subjected to numerous blood tests and intravenous treatments. The court described her behavior as a 'sadistic fabrication' that amounted to '24-hour-a-day torture' for the child.

Prosecutor Andrew Macfarlane detailed how Hayden-Johnson’s deception extended beyond medical procedures. She presented her son in a wheelchair to the Duchess of Cornwall, appeared on television, and exploited charity donations, which she used to fund personal luxuries such as two cruises. She often described her son as 'the most ill child in Britain,' further fueling public sympathy and attracting donations. The court was told that her actions not only caused physical harm but also social stigmatization for the boy, who was led to believe he was chronically and seriously ill.

Adding to her criminal conduct, Hayden-Johnson falsely claimed she had been sexually assaulted in 2007 to avoid a scheduled diabetes test for her son. This lie resulted in her being charged with perverting the course of justice. Her defense argued that she suffers from a factitious disorder, historically known as Munchausen syndrome, and a factitious disorder by proxy, which can lead individuals to feign or induce illness in others to seek attention or sympathy.

Judge Stephen Wildblood sentenced Hayden-Johnson to three years and three months in prison. In his remarks, he described her as 'cruel, manipulative, perverse, disordered, and pitiful.' The judge emphasized the profound harm inflicted on her son, stating that he would have to come to terms with the fact that the person responsible for his care was the one causing him harm. The judge also issued a disqualification order, banning her from working with children in the future, and warned others contemplating similar behavior to reflect on her public downfall. Hayden-Johnson’s case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of child abuse disguised as medical treatment, and her actions have left a lasting scar on her victim and the community alike.