Stroud truck pull organiser Gary Gardner denies using cash from Lee Rigby charity events to fund his band

THE man behind Stroud’s well-known charity truck pulls has denied using the profits of similar events elsewhere in the country to make a single with his band.

Gary Gardner, 54, is accused of keeping the money raised through a series charity truck-pull events which he staged in aid of murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby's six-year-old son Jack.

Pastry-chef Garder put on three truck-pull events in 2013, 2014 and 2015, in the Leicestershire towns of Medbourne and Market Harborough.

These annual events were attended by thousands of people, including Fusilier Rigby's widow Rebecca, 33, and Jack.

Gardner, who now lives in Medbourne in Leicester, denied three charges under the Fraud Act when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

Gardener also put on three truck-pull events in Stroud - in 2013, 2014 and 2015 - in aid of The Door Youth Project and Action for Children.

However, none of the fraud charges concern Gardner's fundraising events in the Stroud district.

The first charge was that between May 2013 and February 2016 he abused his position as a trustee of money charitably donated in aid of Jack Rigby, by failing to account for the total monies donated.

The second charge was that between May 2013 and February 2014 he abused his position as a trustee of money donated in aid of Jack Rigby, by using the money to pay for the production of a music single.

The third charge was that between May 2013 and an unknown date he abused his position as a trustee of money charitably donated in aid of Jack Rigby, by failing to transfer any donated money to Jack Rigby.

Judge Michael Chambers QC gave Gardner unconditional bail and ordered him to return to court for trial on October 2.

Gardner set up truck-pulls which attracted thousands of onlookers to raise cash to put into a trust for Jack and other charities.

Music, media and event specialist Gardner manages a band called Together in Harmony which he says is a "group of up and coming artists from all over the UK" supporting many different charitable causes.

He claimed on his Linked In profile that it released a "charity single" which was "raising funds for the Fusilier Aid Society and a trust fund for Fusilier Lee Rigby's son".

But it is alleged the youngster never received a penny from any of the events.

Jack was aged two when his dad was killed by Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, when he was attacked outside Woolwich Barracks on May 22, 2013.

Adebolajo was given a whole-life term and Adebowale was jailed for a minimum of 45 years for the murder of Fusilier Rigby, who was from Middleton, Manchester.

Rigby, a drummer and machine-gunner in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was wearing a Help for Heroes hooded top when he was attacked.