Painswick mum-of-two faked she had cancer to fleece pre-school parents out of £700 at sham charity events

Aimee Critchley held two coffee mornings and an evening event, supposedly to raise money for the Macmillan cancer charity - but hardly any of the cash was handed over, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

Critchley, from Painswick, pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud.

She also admitted an unrelated theft, when she stole a bottle of wine from a house where she worked as a cleaner, and also finished off other opened bottles.

However, she denied two further charges of stealing money and the court passed not guilty verdicts on both.

Prosecutor Janine Wood told the judge, Recorder Jason Taylor, that one of Mrs Critchley's children had attended a pre-school in the Rodborough area.

"She got to know other parents there and it became known that she had cancer," she said.

"In September 2014, she approached other parents and asked if she could hold a coffee morning for the Macmillan cancer charity when the pre-school premises were not in use.

"They agreed and the event was publicised so that people who could not attend could make donations. Altogether, £176 was raised but it was never forwarded to the charity.

"Then in June 2015, she organized a fundraising evening at her own home, purportedly for the same charity, when her children collected money in a bucket. This raised a total of about £400.

"She then set up another coffee morning in September 2015, but failed to turn up herself.

“Others did go and £120 was raised for Macmillan. This money was handed to her in the belief that it would be paid to the charity but it was not."

In total, she said, £706 was raised at the events, and this was in effect stolen from the people who made donations.

In victim statements, parents with children at the pre-school said they felt misled and betrayed, upset and angry.

One said her whole four-year friendship with Critchley had been based on a lie and she was 'completely stressed by the whole mess.'

When the charity was contacted, police were told that only two payments had ever been made, and these amounted to £42.50.

Miss Wood said the theft of the bottle of wine occurred at a home in New Street, Painswick.

"Critchley had access to the house, and he noticed that wine was missing when he returned home after a break," she said.

Defending, Clare Buckley told the court that at first glance the fraud offences seemed to be very mean.

"But at the time, she was suffering from significant mental health and alcohol abuse difficulties, which are outlined in the probation report," she went on.

"She was in extremely lonely and difficult circumstances and telling people she had cancer was a cry for help.

"She very, very much regrets her behaviour and has now lost all her friends. Her life has changed considerably. All the money was paid back before she was charged."

Passing sentence, Recorder Taylor said Critchley's theft of more than £700 was mean. "You took advantage of people's kindness and generosity," he went on.

"But there is considerable mitigation on your behalf. You have a long history of mental health difficulties and you are remorseful.

"I have decided therefore that I will not pass any type of custodial sentence."

He imposed an 18-month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement of 20 hours, and said he hoped this would enable Critchley to get the help she needed.