Disgraced mum jailed for stealing £20,000 from charity set up in brother's memory and six-year-old Stanley Metcalf's fund

Kayleigh Pepper, who appeared before Hull Crown Court under the surname Towler, used money plundered from the Rich Foundation on restaurants, takeaways, food, and holidays

The 36-year-old took money intended to pay for the funeral expenses of Stanley Metcalf, who was tragically shot dead at his home in Sproatley in 2018 and also from donations for a memorial garden for Stanley.

Ashleigh Metcalfe, prosecuting said there was no doubt that Pepper's motives in setting up the foundation after her brother Richard was stabbed to death in June 2015, were genuine.

But over time the mother-of-two "gave into temptation" to use the money for her own purposes, she said.

Ms Metcalfe said within two days of Stanley's death, Pepper ingratiated herself with the family as primary fundraiser and within a month had organised events including a balloon release, sponsored walk and comedy night.

Pepper also set up a Go Fund Me page raising £2450 towards funeral expenses, while another £1,400 was raised from other sources.

Ms Metcalfe said analysis showed some payments were made to Stanley's family, but the balance was used by Pepper for groceries and clothing. A further £1,500 was transferred to her personal bank account and was spent in a similar way.

In 2019 Pepper persuaded three women, who had run the Hull 10K to route £2,850 they'd raised towards the memorial garden, through the Rich Foundation.

They assumed it would be paid to the school but when it wasn't transferred Pepper came up with various excuses including a forged email to the school purportedly from Go Fund Me.

A total of £1,239.97 was transferred into her own personal account, with money being spent on restaurants, takeaways, food, broadband and utilities, including £219 spent on holidays and £96 on gambling.

The court heard there had been a large number of victims and statements from some of them were read to the court.

Stanley Metcalf’s mother said described how she had put her faith in Pepper at an “incredibly vulnerable” time.

The Peace Garden at St Mary Queen of Martyrs School in Hull was supposed to be “a special place where her son’s friends could go to remember him” and a "a lasting positive memorial of Stanley’s life".

However because of what happened “these memories are tainted. Whenever she thinks of the garden she feels angry, betrayed and finds it difficult to trust people,” Ms Metcalfe said.

Although Pepper admitted one count of fraud at an earlier hearing on the basis that she took no more than £20,000, Ms Metcalfe told the court the total misappropriated mainly between 2018 and 2019 was £33,000.

The court heard that no records had been kept for the last three years - which was against the rules - so it was impossible to calculate how much had been taken.

Nigel Clive, defending, said Pepper had brought to court £2,000 in cash she'd saved up to pay back those she had defrauded, and was "desperately sorry" for the situation.

Judge John Thackray QC said the only appropriate sentence was one of an immediate jail sentence. He said he was sure her offending had a "profound affect" on a number of individuals, and was an abuse of trust over a sustained period.