This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-28297478
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Suspended jail term for memorial fund thief Natalie Thomas | Suspended jail term for memorial fund thief Natalie Thomas |
(35 minutes later) | |
A woman who stole £8,500 from a friend's memorial fund has been given a two-year suspended jail sentence. | A woman who stole £8,500 from a friend's memorial fund has been given a two-year suspended jail sentence. |
Natalie Thomas, 25, of Whitland, Carmarthenshire, took the money from the Bandi Appeal, set up after Laura Rees died in a car crash in 2012. | |
The money was for a new sick children's unit at Glangwili Hospital but Thomas admitted "dipping into the fund". | |
Swansea Crown Court heard the money has been repaid after another friend took out a loan for Thomas. | |
Ms Rees, 22, a nursery worker from St Clears, near Carmarthen, died on the A40 her way to be fitted for a bridesmaid dress. | |
Her friends decided to raise money in her name and Thomas organised a charity night, which raised more than £10,000. | |
But after stealing from the fund, Thomas, who had received treatment for depression because her mother and grandfather were ill, found she could not pay the money back. | |
In sentencing, Mr Justice Christopher Vosper QC also made Thomas the subject of a supervision order and she will have to attend a thinking skills course and carry out 150 hours unpaid community work. |