I'm sorry if this has already been a topic but it's something I've just watched a documentary regarding and I know that the USA and other countries aren't always aware of stories from the UK so thought it would be an interesting topic to bring up and discuss.

Every 2 minutes someone in the UK is reported missing BBC's new programme Reported Missing follows Cheshire police and explores what goes into investigations and the perspectives of those involved in the cases.

In the first episode a man named John Hardy called to report that his 5 and half year old son Tyler had been missing for the last 2 years, after he and solicitors were unable to trace Tyler's ever since John's ex partner Tracey had stopped contact.

To begin with police assumed that John was delusional after Tracey tells them that there is no child and she has no idea what they are talking about. Which is backed up by medical records and accounts from family, friends and neighbours who all back up Tracey's story of there being no child and her having not had any children sort from her 21 year old daughter.

However police continued to investigate where it was discovered through Tracey's daughter that the child Tracey claimed as her and John's was a friend's and that Tracey had lied and said that she was pregnant after she and John split up, all as an act of revenge and in her words was to "teach him a lesson"

Tracey eventually confessed and was sentenced to two years in jail for fraud and perverting the course of justice.

As mentioned in this news article John paid out over £15,000 around $20,000 on a child he was made to believe was his.

Although not clear from the documentary or newspaper articles I would assume that Tracey would have to pay back every penny that John paid out for this 'child'. If she hasn't, I believe she should be made to with further compensation to John

But is her sentence too lenient for the emotional damage she's caused through her lies?

Is this story an example of why women who claim child maintenance should be checked up on ie should all child maintenance go through courts with mandatory birth records and DNA this would also include records of adoption?

Bonus question;

John's reaction was pure devastation so I can only imagine how this little boy's real parents would feel when they found out. So what as a parent (if you are one or hypothetically) would your reaction be to someone pretending that your child was their own?