Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Medical secretary faked cancer to con family out of £250,000

An Indian-origin woman who admitted to lying to her family and friends about suffering from terminal brain cancer to con them out of over 250,000 pounds was sentenced to four years of imprisonment by a UK court on Friday (14).

In 2013, Jasmin Mistry told her then husband, Vijay Katechia, that she had cancer, along with a supporting WhatsApp message what he thought was her doctor.


Investigations later revealed that the message had been sent by her using a different SIM card.

At the end of December 2014, she told her ex-husband that her severe brain cancer meant she had just six months to live, with further messages from another fictitious doctor suggesting that it could be treated in America - at a cost of around £500,000.

Katechia, his family and members of the public went on to be conned out of money over a two-year period between 2015-2017 in the form of donations they thought she needed for life-saving treatments.

Mistry's ex-husband became suspicious when a friend of his saw a picture of a brain scan she had said was taken at one of her consultations.

The plot was finally unravelled after her ex-husband showed a "scan" to a doctor friend, who told him it had been lifted from Google.

Katechia also discovered SIM cards Mistry used to send messages pretending to be other people, and when confronting her she admitted that she had lied.

Police were contacted in November 2017, and Mistry was arrested.

During interviews, she confirmed to officers that she was not terminally ill, and that she did not know why she had lied, according to Met Police reports.

It was found that 20 members of her extended family and eight others were found to have given her money. The total fraud amount was calculated as £253,122.

The 36-year-old had pleaded guilty to the crime after her arrest last year.

Mistry, a medical secretary from Loughborough, was convicted of fraud by false representation and jailed for four years at Snaresbrook Crown Court this week.

Mistry, described in court as a "pathological liar", created a fake online account of a fictitious doctor to message her husband and also posted "Stand up to cancer" messages on social media.

"This is a terrible crime. To tell everybody you have cancer and take money from them... It's an awful situation," Judge Judith Hughes told Mistry in court.

Investigators found that she had used money she was handed over for treatment by unsuspecting family members, including her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and others on fancy designer handbags.

Mistry also defrauded a man she met through a dating website out of nearly £7,500, and two members of the public to whom she lied about being a trader who could invest their money, and who gave around £10,000.

She was charged with one count of fraud by false representation on August 20 and pleaded guilty in October.

More For You

Uganda-high-commission-event

The event also focused on Uganda’s role in cultural diplomacy and sustainable development.

Uganda high commission hosts heritage event in London

THE UGANDA high commission in London hosted an event highlighting Uganda’s cultural heritage and investment opportunities at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Building. The event featured a performance by the Watoto Children’s Choir.

Uganda’s high commissioner to the UK, Nimisha J Madhvani, addressed the gathering, welcoming guests and speaking about the country’s cultural diversity.

Keep ReadingShow less
Maha-kumbh-pilgrims-reuters

Devotees arrive at the river bank to take a holy dip at Sangam during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India on January 28, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

India says 420 million pilgrims have visited Maha Kumbh

INDIA’s government announced on Friday that more than 420 million pilgrims have taken part in ritual bathing at the Maha Kumbh, a Hindu religious festival.

Organisers say the estimate is based on artificial intelligence and surveillance cameras used to track attendance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bird-flu-Getty

There have been 27 confirmed cases of bird flu in England and one in Scotland during the current outbreak. (Representational image: Getty Images)

England bans 'bird gatherings' to contain avian flu spread

THE GOVERNMENT has announced a ban on "bird gatherings" in England as part of efforts to contain the spread of avian influenza.

The ban, which comes into effect from midday on Monday, will apply to fairs, markets, and shows involving various bird species.

Keep ReadingShow less
Matt-Jukes-Getty

Matt Jukes, the UK’s head of counterterrorism, has called for a social media ban for children under 16. (Photo: Getty Images)

Nine-year-old among youngest referred for far-right deradicalisation

A UK charity working to counter far-right radicalisation has seen children as young as nine referred for support.

Exit Hate UK, which helps individuals leave extremist movements, said its youngest-ever referral was nine years old, with the average age of those seeking help being about 15, according to The Times.

Keep ReadingShow less
Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

Wes Streeting addresses the Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28),joined by Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Vikram Doraiswami

Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

WES STREETING spoke of the priority prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government attach to relations with India when he addressed a Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28).

But the secretary of state for health and social care won over the large Indian crowd by paying an unexpected tribute to Rishi Sunak.

Keep ReadingShow less