A heartless fraudster who pretended to have a terminal brain tumor to cheat an old schoolmate out of thousands of pounds has been sentenced to one year in prison.
Matthew Howarth, aged 32, got in touch with Thomas Lee out of the blue after approximately 16 years since they finished high school. However, he started deceiving him by falsely claiming he was on the brink of death.
In his cruel scheme, unemployed Howarth lied about working as a television producer with private health insurance but made up stories about needing money to cover an excess on his policy.
In one Facebook post, he wrote: ‘An utterly abysmal few weeks in and out of hospital like a proverbial pinball. Never a dull moment when suffering from illness.’
Mr Lee, also 32, who was vulnerable after splitting up with his long-time partner, agreed to take out a loan to pay out £2,700 on the understanding he would be paid back – only to be landed with a second plea for £27,000.
He then started to do his own research into Howarth and discovered a Facebook page involving up to two other people who gave him money.
A neighbour of Howarth is also believed to have handed over £7,300.
Mr Lee, a telecommunications worker, asked Howarth for medical evidence of his illness but went to police when he was fobbed off with a string of excuses.
Matthew Howarth, 32, who faked being terminally ill with a brain tumour to swindle an old classmate out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for a year
Matthew Howarth, 32, contacted Thomas Lee (right) out of the blue around 16 years after they left secondary school – but then began falsely telling him he only had weeks to live
Mr Lee, who was vulnerable after splitting up with his long-time partner, agreed to take out a loan to pay £2,700 on the understanding he would be paid back – only to be landed with a second plea from Howarth for £27,000
Inquiries revealed Howarth – who lives with his housebound mother in Atherton, Greater Manchester – had no terminal illness.
In another Facebook post, Howarth shamelessly referenced the Princess of Wales’ cancer treatment, adding ironically: ‘Someone I used to know lied about a cancer diagnosis to get benefits and a new property.
‘What sort of despicable human being does that? Lowest of the low dregs of society. Shame on you!’
In a victim impact statement, Mr Lee said: ‘At the time I was in quite a depressed state having separated with my partner of nine years and when Matt reached out it made me feel good to get back in contact with someone else.
‘Everything seemed to be going well until he told me he was weeks away from death. It affected my sleep and mental wellbeing and it also affected my work.
‘Initially when I found out none of it was true I was actually relieved my friend was not dying and that I would no longer have to help sort out funeral arrangements after all.
‘However when all that died down, I then got to think about what had been done which made me angry and upset. It made me feel quite stupid.
‘He was someone I thought was a friend. It really affected my trust in people. I used to do anything for people. Now I second guess things and I cannot trust someone who is not my family.’
Mr Lee, outside Wigan Magistrates Court, said the incident had affected his trust in others
A social media post from Howarth stated that he had been ‘battling’ his cancer diagnosis
In another post, Howarth shamelessly referenced the Princess of Wales’ cancer treatment
At Wigan Magistrates Court, Howarth pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.
He was jailed for 12 months and ordered to pay Mr Lee £1,200 in compensation.
Three iPhones and a brand new MacBook have additionally been seized by police so that they can be sold to help repay the victim.
Miss Shazia Aslam, prosecuting, said: ‘Thomas Lee is an old school friend of the defendant who contacted him even though they had not been in touch since they had left high school many years ago.
‘The defendant told the complainant he had worked in TV and that he has private medical care that covers him up to £10 million for treatment. He then maintained that he said that a £10,000 excess had to be paid on that and said he had already received about £7,300 of that total.
‘The complainant at the time was feeling very vulnerable and in his words says the defendant almost groomed him.
‘The defendant said he wanted to get treated at a private hospital and said if he did not receive this pending treatment he would die within months.
‘The complainant, having heard all this, suffered from sleepless nights as he thought about his old friend apparently dying when he could be in a position to help.
Further social media posts convinced others to get in touch with Howarth, believing he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour
‘He told the defendant that he would take out a loan and he would give the loan money to the defendant and the defendant could eventually pay him back.
‘As a result, the complainant transferred £2,700 on October 17, 2023, by a bank transfer.
‘After the money had been transferred the complainant said that he did not suspect anything untoward until the defendant asked for a further amount of money to be paid.
‘He then started to do his own research into the defendant and discovered a Facebook page involving up to two people, who are believed to have contributed money to the defendant in the past.
‘One person believed to have contributed £7,300 is a neighbour of the defendant.
‘Mr Lee asked for medical evidence from the defendant to prove the illness but was kept being given excuses and he reported the matter to police. The defendant was arrested and and gave full admissions of guilt in the interview.
‘He said he apologised for doing it and said he was not in the right headspace. He said he was in a bad mental space and for that reason he lied to the complainant about having a brain tumour and claiming it was causing him to become seriously ill.’
In mitigation for Howarth, defence solicitor Duncan Phillips said: ‘My client acknowledges the seriousness of what he has done to Mr Lee.
In addition to his prison sentence Howarth has been banned from contacting Me Lee for two years under the terms of a restraining order
‘But he has suffered multiple traumatic events over a period of time and clearly he is a very vulnerable individual himself.
‘This is someone who is remorseful and can only apologise and make things right as he intends to do.’
Speaking from the dock, Howarth said: ‘I am sincerely sorry and I am heartbroken to lose my friend. I had been experiencing headaches and I am back under neurology for an urgent referral.’
Howarth was also banned from contacting Me Lee for two years under the terms of a restraining order.
JPs told him: ‘You deliberately targeted a vulnerable victim over a period of time, resulting in a serious detrimental effect on him and a financial gain for yourself. ‘
