Acorns Children’s Hospice appeal over child porn case

Jul 24 2009 By Mark Cowan and Paul Suart

BOSSES at a Birmingham-based charity which cares for sick children today appealed for the public not to “desert” them after a volunteer was charged over child sex images.

David Rollason appeared before Sutton Coldfield Magistrates’ Court yesterday accused of two counts of possessing indecent images of children.

The 52-year-old, from Kingsbury Road, Erdington, was remanded in custody to appear before magistrates again next Tuesday, when he is expected to enter a plea.

Rollason worked as a volunteer for Acorns Children’s Hospice and helped siblings and families of life-limited children in its care.

Now a team of detectives, specially trained in interviewing children, are visiting every family with youngsters who may have come into contact with him while officers began sifting through indecent images found on computer hard-drives.

Police stressed that “initial investigations” had not revealed any pictures of children associated with Acorns but said the forensic examination continued.

As the police inquiry continued, Acorns’ bosses appealed for the public’s continued financial support, which is vital to pay for the care of life-limited children and support for their families.

Acorns is currently supporting more than 500 children and their families in the West Midlands and Gloucestershire.

Acorns chief executive David Strudley said: “I am greatly concerned the wonderful reputation which Acorns justly enjoys worldwide will be damaged by this situation and the work which we do with these very vulnerable children and their families will be placed in danger by any loss of public support.

“We are dependent on voluntary donations for more than 80 per cent of our income and it is vital to the future of Acorns that our supporters do not desert us at this very difficult time.”

He added: “This could not have come at a worse time for us as we are struggling to survive this dreadful recession which is already hitting our fundraising so hard.”

At the end of last year the charity warned it was facing the worst financial crisis in its 25-year history.

Mr Strudley added: “Earlier this year we were forced to launch our ‘Fragile Lives Appeal’ through which we are seeking to secure the future of our vital services for life limited children and their families. We need to raise over £6 million each year from our fundraising activities and a further £3 million each year from our network of charity shops.”