LONG EATON WEBSITE EXTRA

LONG EATON CHARITY WORKER IN £73K FRAUD

A fraudster swindled more than £73,000 from a Nottingham charity and its trading subsidiary company which he used to work for to pay towards a house he was buying. Darren Pickering, 37, was employed by community-based charity The Renewal Trust and Hungerhill Trading Limited between 18th August 2015 and 21st December 2018. The charity works with children, young people, adults and communities in St Ann’s, Sneinton and Mapperley – Nottingham’s Area 6 – and beyond. It supports people by offering a number of young people's programmes, community initiatives, sports programmes and employability assistance.

Pickering, of Bonsall Street, Long Eaton, was employed by the charity as a full-time property manager. He transferred money from the trust to pay fraudulent invoices, with the funds going into his own bank account.

He used the money he’d fraudulently gained to pay a deposit on a house he was buying in Derbyshire. On Friday 2nd October 2020, he was jailed for two years at Nottingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to a charge of fraud by abuse of position.

He used the money he’d fraudulently gained to pay a deposit on a house he was buying in Derbyshire. On Friday 2nd October 2020, he was jailed for two years at Nottingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to a charge of fraud by abuse of position.

 Detective Sergeant Anna Haynes, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a significant amount of money for the charity which Pickering stole for his own selfish gain. He was a trusted member of staff but he abused and exploited his position. This was a complex investigation and I’m glad Pickering pleaded guilty. The evidence against him was overwhelming. I hope this case sends a clear message to those who believe they can abuse their position for their own financial gain that offences will be uncovered and you will be brought before the courts to answer to your crimes.”