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Benefits scrounger Keith Macdonald, dubbed Britain's most feckless father, allegedly FAKED HIS OWN DEATH to avoid paying maintenance for one of his many offspring.
MacDonald, 25, pretended to be his flatmate and texted the mum-to-be of his NINTH child saying 'Keith is dead'.
Shocked Clare Bryant, 22, phoned police and hospitals to check out the story, and then got a message claiming to be from MacDonald's sister confirming he had passed away.
The Sun reports the texts then became 'sinister' suggesting MacDonald had killed himself and that it was Clare's fault.
MacDonald admitted his deception a fortnight later, telling Clare he wanted to 'get away' from his life.
Outraged Clare, from Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, told reporters: 'I went through hell. What sort of sick person pretends to have died?'
Clare already has one child by MacDonald, one-year-old Paige. She is due to give birth to their second baby next month. MacDonald is said to have fathered a potential SEVENTEEN children, but has nothing to do with any of them. Estimates suggest his offspring have already cost taxpayers over £1million.
Read more about Britain's most feckless dad here: