Fraudster Danielle Kelly set up a Go Fund Me page for her mum's funeral - before pocketing the donations herself. The 28-year-old, from Stafford, spent the cash on 'rent, bills and living costs' instead of giving her loved-one a send-off. She then lied to her relatives about where the money had gone.
Cannock Magistrates' Court heard Kelly's mum had died on May 9 last year and she created a fund-raising page on May 31 requesting money. On June 30 a woman made a £1,000 pledge to the account and her uncle also stumped up £1,000. But in mid August last year Kelly contacted the council to say she was struggling financially and she needed help with the funeral costs.
The Go Fund Me Page had at that stage attracted £1,450 from 43 donors. And on September 1, Kelly spoke to the coroner's officer to ask to have a council funeral. 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 that 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.
