Man says childhood was 'taken from me' through fake illnesses
Matthew Johnson, a 25-year-old man, has spoken out about his childhood after his mother was jailed for fabricating his illnesses to gain public sympathy. He participated in a documentary to process the trauma of being subjected to unnecessary medical treatments for years.
Why it matters
The case highlights the severe psychological and physical impact of Munchausen syndrome by proxy on victims and the importance of child protection awareness.
Image source, Channel 4 Image caption, Matthew Johnson said he has processed what happened in his childhood
A man whose mother falsely claimed he was suffering from serious illnesses says he will never regain his lost childhood.
Lisa Hayden-Johnson from Brixham won public sympathy for her fight for Matthew Johnson's medical care after claiming he was unable to walk, eat or breathe without assistance - she was jailed in 2010 for three years and three months for putting him through unnecessary treatment.
She has now participated in a Channel 4 documentary, as has her son, his sister Laura, doctors from Torbay, social workers and Devon police who investigated.
Johnson, now 25, said participating in the documentary helped as he "gained a lot of useful information that I didn't actually know".
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