Woman jailed for defrauding kids charity

A fraudster who created fake references to gain employment at a children's charity has been jailed for two years.

Claire Alderton of Shadwell Road in Portsmouth admitted committing fraud by false representation, in dishonestly providing false references to gain employment at the George's Rockstars charity, intending to make a financial gain for herself.

The 48-year-old was offered a position as a fundraiser at the charity which provides music therapy in early 2024. It said her actions were "truly abhorrent".

Later that year Alderton told her employer that she had been diagnosed with cancer and stopped attending work. It was ascertained in court that that this had been a lie.

Hampshire Police said an investigation was launched into Alderton after the force received a referral from Report Fraud.

After she provided two false references for the job of trusts and foundations fundraiser, Alderton was employed by the charity in June 2024.

During her employment, she told the charity that she had successfully submitted applications for grants, as per her role.

In December 2024, Alderton told her employer that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

She then stopped responding to any contact from the charity.

The charity contacted the foundation that Alderton said she had secured a grant from, only to find out that no application had ever been made.

It then made contact with Alderton's referees through LinkedIn, who confirmed they had not written the references she had provided.

Alderton was subsequently charged with committing fraud by false representation.

The charity was co-founded in 2019 by Amy O'Shaughnessy, in memory of her son George who died of leukaemia.

Following the sentencing, she said: "To target charities, secure employment through deception and fabricate a cancer diagnosis to the mother and founder of an organisation established in memory of a child who bravely fought that very disease is truly abhorrent.

"Furthermore, to falsify funding applications meant to support seriously ill children in hospitals is a profound betrayal of public trust.

"George's Rockstars was created to preserve my son's legacy and provide music therapy to families navigating their darkest hours in hospitals.

"While our services face immense demand, I have had to work tirelessly simply to prevent his legacy from going under due to this her fraudulent actions."

She added: "Personally, uncovering the sheer depth of these lies has been emotionally devastating."