Woman set up GoFundMe for mum's funeral - and then stole the money

A fraudster set up a fundraiser page for people to donate to her mother’s funeral, before keeping the thousands of pounds for herself.

Danielle Kelly set up the gofundme page to remember her mother, and dozens of people, including her uncle, pledged money towards her funeral, and other costs in May last year. But Cannock Magistrates’ Court heard Kelly instead spent the money on herself, putting it towards her rent and other bills.

In August last year, Kelly contacted the council to say she was struggling financially and she needed help with the funeral costs, despite the account having more than £1,000 at the time. On September 1, Kelly spoke to the coroner's officer to ask to have a council funeral, StokeonTrentLive reported.

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Prosecutor Sara Beddow said: "On September 22 it was confirmed she had made no contact with a funeral directors to pay for the funeral. It was paid for by Derbyshire Council.

"Enquiries with the bank confirmed her bank account was credited with £2,000 on June 30 last year. Her balance on August 3 was £134.

"She obtained £3,470 towards her mother's funeral costs but did not use the money for its intended purpose and requested the council pay for it instead."

In her police interview Kelly confirmed she received £2,000 from the two donors and said she spent it on 'rent, bills and living costs'. Miss Beddow added there were claims for compensation for the two people who paid £1,000 and Derbyshire Council which paid £1,760.

Kelly, of Compton Road, Baswich, Stafford , pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation. Representing herself, Kelly said: "I committed the offence due to the financial circumstances I was struggling with at the time. I feel really bad for doing so. I do regret what I did."

District Judge Stephen Hayes sentenced Kelly to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 15 days and 140 hours unpaid work. She was ordered to pay a total of £1,500 compensation - £500 to each of the three parties entitled to a payment.

District Judge Hayes said: "It is difficult to think of how you could have acted in a worse way than you did. You should be thoroughly ashamed of your actions.

“There was a huge element of breach of trust, not just with family members but members of the public and friends you asked for donations from. You asked for donations over a significant period of time and even lied to the funeral staff who waited for you to tell them what you wanted to do for your own mother's funeral.

“I genuinely find it difficult to comprehend how you could behave in that fashion."