A WOMAN who impersonated a doctor and told a terminally ill woman she could get her a lung transplant has received a community order.

But the “cruel” trickster escaped jail because the only sentence for such a crime is a fine or community order.

Judge Donald Tait told victim Angela Murray’s family he would have jailed Julie Higgins “without batting an eyelid” if the Medical Act 1983 allowed him to.

But he said his “hands are tied in relation to how to sentence you for this appalling behaviour.”

Now Mrs Murray’s family have called for tougher penalties for such offences and said Higgins ruined the last months of Mrs Murray’s life.

Speaking after the hearing, her brother, David Drummond, said the whole family had been affected.

He added: "It has been dreadful. Angela died three to four weeks after we found out this woman was a fraud. She suffered 100 times more than we did - all her hope had been dragged from her.

"She went downhill rapidly but this woman is free to walk the streets and probably do the same again."

Sentencing, Judge Tait said: “If this was an offence that carried imprisonment I would send you to prison without batting an eyelid but it does not. I wish I could do otherwise.”

Higgins, 54, gave false hope to dying Mrs Murray, claiming to be a surgeon and oncology specialist at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. She had never worked there.

The two women were introduced by their hairdresser, who believed Higgins' claims.

The court heard Higgins had made elaborate claims and told Mrs Murray lungs were available for a transplant operation.

She sent many messages to her victim giving false details of her travels around the world searching for donor organs.

The offender, of Spruce Close in Poole, admitted one count of fraud by false misrepresentation and another of impersonating a doctor when she appeared before Poole magistrates last month. The fraud offence related to obtaining free haircuts at the Poole salon she and her victim both used.

She appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentence.

The court heard Mrs Murray, who lived in Hill Road, Swanage, died of a rare lung disease in October last year aged 59.

In a statement to the court, her widower, Gregory Murray, said: "I was devastated when my wife died. It was awful when we were told that Angie was terminally ill. It was heart-breaking.

"For Julie Higgins to add to my grief in the way she has is unforgivable. "I have lost all faith in people. I do not believe in anything any more.

Higgins received a community order of 12 months with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days. She must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and is subject to an indefinite criminal behaviour order.

Defending, Berenice Mulvanny said Higgins suffers from a personality disorder and is "incredibly mentally unwell."