Two people have been jailed for a combined eight years after stealing more than £300,000 from a children’s charity they set up.
Ruksana Khan, 68, and James Donovan, 58, both of Blackpool, Lancashire, defrauded the now defunct Kidz Come First between 2011 and 2016 to fund online gambling addictions.
Khan founded Kidz Come First in 2011 to provide services in support of children and young people with disabilities, special needs or chronic illnesses.
The charity was run from Khan’s previous home address in Clacton, which she shared with Donovan who was a trustee at the charity from its inception.
Kidz Come First was dissolved and removed from the charity register in February 2016 following the fraud.
Essex Police said it opened an investigation in 2017 after complaints received by the Charity Commission.
“The charity had people collecting cash for them up and down the country under the premise of providing funds to support children with disabilities or terminal illnesses,” Essex Police said.
“But large sums were actually being used by both defendants for their personal gain, including gambling and paying household bills.
“While the charity did help some families, others were promised respite holidays, equipment and even a ground-floor extension for a disabled wet room.
“These promises were never fulfilled.”
The investigation found Donovan opened the charity’s bank account and statements showed thousands of pounds were paid into Khan’s personal account.
Essex Police said this money was used for online gambling.
“Large sums of money were also paid into Donovan’s personal account between 2013 and 2016,” they said.
“Between [these times] money was also paid to gambling sites.”
Both Khan and Donovan were jailed at a sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court on 13 June.
Before the sentencing, the court held a Newton hearing on 12 June in relation to the details of the offence Khan had pleaded guilty to.
A Newton hearing is held after a defendant pleads guilty to an offence, but the factual circumstances need to be agreed before sentencing.
Khan initially pleaded guilty to fraud at the same court in 2021 and admitted to £80,000 worth of theft.
At the Newton hearing, Recorder William Clegg KC found Khan guilty of stealing £315,000.
Khan was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison.
Donovan initially denied three counts of fraud but was found guilty after a trial this January and was jailed for three years.
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We expect anyone working on behalf of a charity to do so with integrity. These individuals took advantage of public generosity and diverted much-needed funds away from causes people care about.
“The verdict sends a strong warning to anyone seeking to misuse public goodwill for their own benefit, that they will be held to account.
“Most fundraising is genuine but on rare occasions when it isn’t, the commission will intervene. Our work was instrumental in putting a stop to this fraudulent operation.
“Working with the police and other law enforcement agencies is essential to detecting, deterring and preventing financial abuse so the British public can feel confident their charitable donations are being put to the intended use.”
Claire March, detective constable and lead investigator, said: “Khan and Donovan have shown no remorse throughout this case.
“Khan set up the charity with a clear motive from the beginning to steal funds for their gambling addictions and lifestyle.
“To steal £315,000 from a children’s charity where the money should have been spent on disabled and terminally ill children for equipment, healthcare and respite holidays is absolutely shocking.”