Couple who faked daughter's leukaemia jailed

An Ohio couple who admitted faking their 7-year-old daughter's leukaemia to gain thousands of dollars in donations were sent to prison yesterday.

Teresa Milbrandt will serve 6 1/2 years and her husband, Robert, four years and 11 months. They appeared in Champaign County Common Pleas Court in Urbana, Ohio.

Police said the Milbrandts fooled 65 people and businesses into giving them money to help treat their daughter, Hannah. It is estimated they collected about US$31,000 ($53,000).

Authorities said Teresa Milbrandt shaved her daughter's hair, gave her sleeping pills to make it appear she was receiving chemotherapy, made her wear a protective mask and put her into counselling to prepare for death.