WA fraudster jailed over $69,000 scheme

A fraudster who conned people out of more than $69,000 by claiming to be a lawyer for a justice organisation and a family court lawyer has been jailed for three years and four months.

Lisa Marie Burch - dubbed 'Lisa the Liar' by local media - was sentenced in the Perth District Court on Friday for more than 25 dishonesty charges including fraud causing a detriment, fraudulent falsification of records and fabricating evidence with intent to mislead.

She conned victims out of a total of $69,185.80 after befriending justice campaigner John Button who introduced her to some of her victims through his Innocence Project WA.

Burch, 34, convinced people to deposit money into her bank account under the guise that it was covering legal fees in a bid to prove the innocence of family or friends.

She also created fraudulent documents in the name of the project and falsely signed legal documents.

Judge Julie Wager said vulnerable people would accept at face value a document that looked official with a court stamp on it.

"You knowingly preyed on this in order to falsify evidence," she said.

Burch, a mother-of-four, has a long history of fraud, which includes faking vaginal cancer, even going to the extent of shaving her head and telling her own children she was dying.

Under the name Lisa Marie Mackay, she forged hospital reports to raise funds for special cancer treatment and received donations after publicising her fake plight in the media.

She was sentenced to 28 months in prison, which was when she met Mr Button, who was wrongfully convicted of the manslaughter of his girlfriend, Rosemary Anderson, in 1963.

Mr Button founded the Innocence Project WA after his 40-year fight for justice resulted in his conviction being overturned in 2002.

Burch will be eligible for parole after serving half her sentence.

Outside court, Burch's lawyer Patti Chong said her client was remorseful.