Man jailed over imaginary 9/11 'victim'

More than 2,800 died in the New York attacks

A man has been jailed for more than a decade for defrauding charities of $160,000 by falsely claiming that his son died in the 11 September attacks.

Cyril Kendall said 29-year-old "Wilfred" was in New York's World Trade Center when it was destroyed by two hijacked aircraft being flown into the twin skyscrapers.

In reality, the father-of-12 did not have a son called Wilfred.

Kendall, 54, was convicted by a court in New York on charges of grand larceny and offering a false instrument, and sentenced to between 11 and 33 years in prison.

He had received funds from the American Red Cross and the Safe Horizons charity.

Kendall said he used $95,000 for family grief counselling and the remainder on related expenditure, including a memorial service.

Perjury charges?

During his trial, four of Kendall's children testified that they had a brother named Wilfred.

State Supreme Court Justice Ronald Zweibel has recommended that the district attorney prosecute the four for perjury.

A district attorney's office spokeswoman said prosecutors would review the case.

More than 2,800 people died in the attacks on the World Trade Center two years ago.