Fraudster conned charities out of thousands of pounds for own band

Nov 5 2009 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

A FRAUDSTER committed a "gross perversion" by cheating needy, local charities out of thousands of pounds – and bought equipment for his band instead.

Elliot Mark Pace, of Orrell Lane, Burscough, dishonestly made several false representations by putting on a Christmas show for charity and by advertising to raise funds for good causes.

They included Queenscourt hospice, Jospice, Make-a-Wish Foundation, the British Heart Foundation, the Mount Short Break Service and Southport and Ormskirk NHS charitable fund.

But a total of £3,498 went into repairing and replenishing equipment of Pace’s Generations Charity Show Group.

Pace, 28, appeared at Preston Crown Court on October 30 for sentencing.

Judge Norman Wright said: “You were a member of a charity organisation and it’s right to observe that you offered to work for this organisation before you came to a position of authority.

“But there came a time for various reasons that you chose to divert money from good causes to provide better equipment for the group.

“It was out of vanity or wanting to give a better performance. This is a gross perversion of the monies that the public gave money to.”

He added: “Other people might become deterred from donating in the future.”

Prosecuting, David Pickup, told the court the group was co-founded in 2002 by Moya Forshaw and raised money for cancer charities by performing cabaret shows.

Pace got involved in the group as a singer. Following the passing of Mrs Forshaw, Pace took over the group and became treasurer.

Mr Pickup said: “Mr Pace resisted assistance with book-keeping and none of the group’s members thought of checking the charity’s bank account.

“Suspicions began when the banked money was not getting to the charities concerned.”

Fraud enquiries led to Pace’s arrest on September 26 2008. He denied the allegations.

No donations were made to Queenscourt since June 2004 and monies going to other charities proved not to be the correct amount.