A woman whose husband pretended to have cancer has said his years of lying “stole so much of my life”.
Lucy Witchard, of Leicester, said David Carroll, 35, told her he had leukaemia when they met in 2006 – they married in 2011 and have since divorced.
She said in 2015 her mother gave him £2,000 for treatment in the US after he said the cancer was terminal.
Carroll was given a suspended prison sentence for fraud at Leicester Magistrates’ Court last week.
Ms Witchard told the BBC the family became suspicious while Carroll was in the US – enjoying a holiday rather than receiving cancer treatment.
The 31-year-old said she confronted him on his return, but he went “ballistic” and tried to keep up the pretence.
“He even got a work colleague to call me pretending to be his doctor,” she said.
“I knew after that phone call that our marriage was over.”
Carroll later admitted he had lied about having leukaemia.
Ms Witchard said she still felt “incredibly hurt and angry”, as he “stole so much of my life”.
A former team-mate at a Leicester rugby club told the BBC that Carroll also told members of his “cancer” and received handouts of food and drink.
Jonathan Hunt, of Aylestone Athletic RFC, said: “Carroll had set himself a challenge to run seven marathons in seven days, but then he couldn’t because he said his condition was getting worse.
“The club then organised two charity fundraising events, including a run, to support Carroll and people with leukaemia.”
Carroll was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of fraud by false representation.
He was also told to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation.
A 12-month restraining order means he is not allowed to contact Ms Witchard or his mother-in-law.