Angmering teens defraud Poling hospice

Angmering residents gave the pair, aged 15 and 16 and from the village, 70, when they claimed to be collecting for Chestnut Tree House children's hospice, but they kept it themselves.

The boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty of fraud at Worthing Youth Court last week, and each handed a nine-month supervised youth offending referral, and told to perform 30 hours of voluntary work for the hospice.

They were also ordered to pay Chestnut Tree 35 each in compensation, as well as 40 in costs.

Playing on generosity

Sgt Carolyn Kendall, from the Arundel neighbourhood policing team, said: "These two boys played on the generosity of local people for their own personal gain, showing utter contempt for the valuable work done by Chestnut Tree House to support sick children and their families.

"I am pleased that the hospice will now benefit from the donations given in good faith to these boys, but I am sure that the 30 hours they will spend working for Chestnut Tree House will have a lasting and profound affect on them, and bring a realisation of the damage that this type of behaviour does to the hospice, and the community at large."

She added that while fraud of this type was rare, residents should check the ID of anyone arriving on their doorstep, claiming to be from a charity.

Charity donations

Janet Parsons, head of communications and donor marketing for the hospice, said: "As a charity, we do not ask people, especially children or young people, to collect door to door for us.

"The only exception to this is our lottery for which we have official canvassers who are fully briefed on Chestnut Tree House and the care it provides to children and young people who have life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses.

"They wear tabards and carry photo ID and encourage people to check with the hospice that they are bona fide representatives if they are at all unsure.

"Anybody collecting fraudulently for the hospice could potentially damage our reputation in the local community and give out false information about the charity and, of course, we do not receive the vital funds we need which their victims have given in good faith."

-----------------------------

Click here to return toLittlehampton Gazette news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Gazette's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Gazette: [email protected]

Want to read this page in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Urdu or 48 other languages? click here for Google translate.