A gambling addict has been given a suspended prison sentence after he defrauded a charity for terminally ill children out of more than £8,000.
Gary Ferris, who lives in Ashford, pleaded guilty to organising fake fundraising events for the charity Hopes & Dreams, which raises money to give critically sick children and young people the opportunity to enjoy special holidays and trips.
The 38-year-old admitted 15 fraud offences after an investigation by Kent Police’s serious economic crime unit (SECU).
He was given a six month prison sentence suspended for two years and 180 hours of community service at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.
Detective Inspector Mark Fairhurst from the SECU, said: "While many people raise funds for good causes legitimately, Gary Ferris used money he had raised for charity to fund his gambling habits.
"He took advantage of people wanting to donate money to help ill children and in doing so undermined the reputation of the Hopes & Dreams charity.
"His actions have caused distress to those who offered their premises in good faith and attended the events.
"Kent Police advises publicans and people hosting events to check with the charity to make sure it is genuine."
Police said court proceedings were continuing with regard to confiscation of property and would be heard at a later date.
Ferris organised charity ‘race nights’ at clubs and pubs across Kent and three other counties claiming money would go towards the charity based in Redbridge, Essex.
He held several events a week where event-goers would bet on horse races shown on a DVD and prizes were given out, using the name Funtime Racetime.
After he contacted the charity in 2007, they told him that they would welcome any money raised but they could not endorse the events with their logo.
Event-goers believed they were raising funds for Hopes & Dreams and at the end of the nights the amount raised would be announced.
Venues were promised a certificate from the charity confirming the amount donated at a later date.
But publicans who had allowed Ferris to use their pubs for the race nights contacted Hopes & Dreams in February last year, concerned that they had not received a certificate. The charity then called the police.
Kent Police said the SECU’s investigation focused on race night events held after September 2007 at 15 locations across the county, and in Essex, Norfolk and Surrey.
Race nights were held in Rochester, Sittingbourne, Chatham, Margate and Dartford.
In total the events raised £8,180 but none of it was given to the charity.
After he was arrested in August last year, Ferris admitted during police interviews that he had an online gambling addiction that had left him tens of thousands of pounds in debt and resulted in the loss of his house and car.
Canterbury Crown Court’s Judge van der Bijl said at sentencing this week: "This is a very serious matter especially as a charity was defrauded out of a large sum."
POSTED: 21/08/2009 14:45:00
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