When confronted with the likelihood of facing a long term behind bars, the son of Ryan ONeal and Farrah Fawcett, told a court in Los Angeles that his mother now weighed only 86lbs.

Probably taking a leaf out of the book of Jack Tweed, the late Jade Goody’s husband, Redmond ONeal, 24, was hoping that the fact that his mother is evidently in the final round of her fight with cancer, would help sway the judge in his consideration when sentencing ONeal.

Asking for leniency following his violation of his parole which resulted from drug use, Redmond told the judge, “I want to be there for my mom. My mom only weighs 86 pounds right now and I’m sorry your honor.”

But far more important than the result of Redmond’s court appearance is the fact that if his statement is true with regard to Farrah, it indicates that her cancer may have now spread to other organs in her body.

The 62 year old former Charlie’s Angel star is recovering at home following her recent visit to Germany for cancer treatment.

Fawcett’s situation has not been made any more comfortable with the announcement that her son Redmond had been arrested on drug charges when he was caught behaving erratically in a jail parking lot where he and friends were visiting an incarcerated companion.

Last Friday, the judge ordered O’Neal to remain in custody until April 30, when he will be sentenced.