A firefighters support charity said it was “shocked and saddened” after one of its fundraisers admitted stealing more than £36,000 from the charity.
Natasha Mason, 46, of Pewsham, Chippenham in Wiltshire, worked as a regional fundraising team manager for The Fire Fighters Charity between June 2010 and September 2020.
She appeared in Salisbury Crown Court on 17 April and admitted to stealing from the charity at events between April 2018 and March 2020
She was convicted of one count of theft by an employee and was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay £5,000 in compensation.
Salisbury Crown Court said its records showed Mason stole money to the value of £36,859.
A spokesperson for The Fire Fighters Charity said: “Every penny raised for The Fire Fighters Charity by dedicated members of our fire services community, and donated by members of the public, helps us to positively impact the lives of deserving fire and rescue service personnel and their families across the UK.
“Those who work for us in support of fundraising activities therefore have a duty to ensure that all monies raised are safely and securely handled at all times.
“As an organisation that prides itself on its honesty, integrity and good standing within the fire community, we were shocked and saddened to discover that this was not the case with one former, trusted colleague.
“Our gratitude [goes] to Wiltshire Police for its investigation of this case.”