Sherry Davis assumed the identity of a patient suffering from lung cancer in a bid to get son Jay out of jail on compassionate grounds.

Davis used her position as receptionist at the Cosham Health Centre in Vectis Way, Cosham to commit the fraud.

The 49-year-old had got hold of a letter relating to a genuine patient who suffered from cancer.

She then changed some of the details to make it look like she was in fact the one with the terminal illness.

Davis then sent the letter to her son who was serving an indefinite prison sentence at Reading Young Offender's Institution.

He used the letter to support an application for temporary release on compassionate grounds.

But the application failed and he was later moved to Aylesbury Young Offender's Institution where he tried to use the letter again.

Staff at the prison became suspicious when they found out Davis had been before the courts previously for forging medical notes.

In June 2008 she was given a suspended sentence for forging documents to get another son, Brett Cooke, out of probation meetings.

She initially denied any knowledge of the letter – but later admitted forgery and perverting the course of justice.

At Portsmouth Crown Court Davis was spared an immediate prison sentence.

Instead, she was given a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

Karen Travers, from the Hampshire & Isle Of Wight Counter Fraud Service, condemned Davis's actions.

'The majority of NHS staff are honest and hardworking. However, there are a small minority who commit fraud against the NHS and unfortunately this is not the first time this individual has been convicted of this type of offence,' she said.

'This was an unusual case.

'Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust take patient confidentiality very seriously and the fact that Davis used patient data for her own gain was treated as a very serious matter.'

Davis of Colchester Road, Cosham, was also ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work for the community.


ASHAMED AND DISGUSTED

Portsmouth Crown Court heard that Sherry Davis was 'ashamed and disgusted' by her actions.

Davis, who has three sons, has three previous convictions for six offences – including the fraud offences for which she received a suspended sentence in June 2008.

She broke down in tears as the facts of the case were outlined.

Her barrister, Bill Mousley, said: 'These are offences of desperation committed by a woman who found herself in an extremely difficult position.'

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