Woman who stole £85k from charity set up in memory of friend’s daughter ordered to repay money

A woman who stole £85,000 from a charity set up in memory of her friend’s daughter has been ordered to repay the money. Lindsay MacCallum, who defrauded the cancer charity Rainbow Valley and embezzled funds from the Anthony Nolan Trust, was sentenced to three years in prison for her crimes. A hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act took place to reclaim her illicit gains, with it being revealed that MacCallum had personally profited to the sum of £95,483.48 from her criminal activities, possessing over £175,000 in total available wealth.

MacCallum had already reimbursed £25,000 to Rainbow Valley, prompting the Crown to seek a confiscation order for the remaining amount of £70,483.48. It was intended that the reclaimed funds would be divided between the two charities affected, with the Anthony Nolan Trust recovering £9,505 and Rainbow Valley receiving £60,978.48. However, there were concerns that the money might be absorbed into central funds rather than being returned to the charities.

The case was adjourned until December 11th to explore potential solutions to ensure the restitution of funds to the affected charities. MacCallum, a mother-of-two from Aberfoyle, Perthshire, had deceived Rainbow Valley by forging signatures and diverting fundraising proceeds for personal use between 2011 and 2021. She misappropriated significant sums for her own benefit, including transferring money to her bank accounts, spending on a credit card, and making purchases.

MacCallum had previously worked for the Anthony Nolan Trust before setting up Rainbow Valley with her friend Angela MacVicar in honour of Angela’s late daughter, Johanna, who passed away from leukaemia at 27. After discovering discrepancies in a fundraising account, Angela uncovered MacCallum’s fraudulent activities, expressing feeling betrayed by her best friend’s deceit. The court proceedings shed light on MacCallum’s systematic and deliberate actions to exploit charities for personal gain, despite lacking financial difficulties.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in charitable organisations. It highlights the devastating impact of financial misconduct on the intended beneficiaries of charity funds and underscores the need for robust governance and oversight to prevent such exploitation in the future.

In summary, the article reports on the sentencing of a woman who defrauded cancer charities, her order to repay the stolen funds, and the potential challenges in ensuring restitution to the affected organisations. The case underscores the significance of ethical conduct in charitable endeavours and the repercussions of betraying the trust of donors and beneficiaries through financial malpractice.