Addict admits charity scam (From Stroud News and Journal)

Addict admits charity scam

A CONMAN who hoodwinked more than 200 people into sponsoring him in the Stroud Half Marathon boasted that his victims were 'suckers.'

Craig Imrie, 18, duped a total of 225 people into giving him between £1 and £5 to run in the event last October to raise money for Stroud Hospital's League of Friends.

But Stroud Magistrates heard on Monday how Imrie had never had any intention of running in the race or handing over the money to charity.

"Apparently he did start the marathon run," said Derek Ryder, prosecuting.

"He apparently thought the police would be there to see if he did start and once he noticed there was not much of a police presence he gave up very quickly."

He admitted 12 charges of obtaining money by deception and asked for a further 223 similar offences of deception or attempted deception to be taken into account.

Mr Ryder said police had received reports last autumn that Imrie, who they already knew as a heroin addict and criminal, had been visiting homes in Stroud claiming to be collecting sponsorship for the race.

"Police carried out a search of his house," said Mr Ryder.

"From there they recovered sponsorship forms in a bin and under a bed in the name of Craig Hindry.

"They also found some brown powder and a letter addressed to his brother who was in custody at the time.

"It said 'I make my money getting sponsorship money for the Stroud Half Marathon in partnership with the League of Friends. Ha, ha, ha - suckers.'"

Police in Gloucester were also investigating a theft where Imrie had stolen several packets of cigarettes from an elderly man who he had approached for sponsorship.

The teenager left copies of the sponsorship form at the old man's house, leading the police straight to him.

Imrie also admitted failing to surrender to bail at Stroud police station in January.

"Imrie was interviewed about these offences and said he was collecting money legitimately and had sent money to the charity and fully intended to run the half marathon," said Mr Ryder.

"He said the reason he was collecting under a false name was because he didn't want any publicity.

"On November 5 police arrested him for further deceptions.

"He had visited homes collecting sponsorship forms and monies despite being on police bail," said Mr Ryder.

Steve Young, defending, calculated Imrie had only raised about £400 through his scam.

"You may think this was a particularly nasty way of obtaining money," said Mr Young.

But he urged the court to consider that its maximum sentencing powers of 12 months in a young offenders institution would be tough enough and there was no need to send Imrie for sentencing at crown court.

Imrie will be remanded in custody before being sentenced on April 29.