Judge ‘dumbstruck’ by Wednesfield woman’s lies over charity scam
A WOMAN who helped bogus charity collectors dressed as Darth Vader and Spiderman con Black Country residents out of cash has been ordered to do 80 hours’ unpaid work.
Kelly Louise Hallard, of Blackhalve Lane, Wednesfield, left a judge “dumbstruck” yesterday as he accused her of lying in court about her involvement in the scam.
The unemployed 22-year-old was charged with fraud for her part in a gang that was out collecting money, in East Park, Wolverhampton, on November 9. They claimed to be fundraising for Children In Need.
Hallard completed charity registration forms under a different name. She also owned the two costumes which were worn by family friends Scott Smith, aged 18, and Ty Mills, aged 19, both of Prestwood Road West, Wednesfield,
The scam is thought to have netted around £120 before Smith and Mills, both of previously good character, were arrested over suspicions they were bogus.
The two men appeared before Wolverhampton magistrates last month and pleaded guilty to fraud. They were each sentenced to a 12-month community order with 40 hours’ unpaid work. They were also ordered to pay £85 costs each.
However, Hallard denied the charge and at her trial yesterday she claimed to have filled out the forms online in the name of family friend Luke Kelly, to help him. But she “didn’t trust him 100 per cent,” so she put her own address down, she said.
Giving evidence, Mr Kelly, of Tettenhall, said he intended to wear both costumes on the same day and wanted to put the fundraising achievement on his CV.
However, he gave the costumes to Smith and Mills, despite having met them only briefly, he said.
But District Judge Graham Wilkinson told Hallard and Mr Kelly that he hadn’t believed their accounts.
“You’ve lied constantly in my view, and not very well either,” the judge told Hallard, whose criminal record included a caution and a conviction for acts of dishonesty.
“Throughout the trial I’ve been dumbstruck by what you told me.
“I’ve no doubt you were one of those who wanted to use the charity to gain for yourself.”
He gave Hallard the unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order and told her to pay £200 costs.
Co-accused Peter Atack, 53, of no fixed address, also denied fraud, having dressed as Batman to raise money. Atack was cleared by the judge, who said the gang may have manipulated him.
