A woman’s actions have been slammed as “truly abhorrent” by the mother of a child whose tragic death inspired the children’s cancer charity she scammed.
Claire Alderton, 48, from Portsmouth, plead guilty on Friday 19 June to committing fraud by false representation. Alderton began working at George’s Rockstars in early 2024, and was tasked with providing two references from previous employers.
She told the charity that she had successfully submitted applications for grants, as per her role.
However, she stopped turning up to work in December 2024 after telling her employer that she had cancer.
Following this, the charity became unable to get into contact with her at all.
It was at this point that Alderton’s lies began to unravel, as the charity discovered that she had never even applied for the grant that she claimed she had.
It was also discovered that her references were forged, and the referees said via LinkedIn that they had written none of them.
She was then arrested and charged. She admitted to committing fraud by fake representation by using fake references in order to gain employment at a charity, benefitting financially in the process.
It was revealed in court that her cancer diagnosis had also been a lie.
She was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Co-founder of the charity Amy O’Shaughnessy set up the charity after losing her son George to Leukaemia in 2019, and was both upset and angry at the revelation of Alderton’s lies.
“To target charities, secure employment through deception, and fabricate a cancer diagnosis to the mother and founder of an organisation established in memory of a child who bravely fought that very disease is truly abhorrent. Furthermore, to falsify funding applications meant to support seriously ill children in hospitals is a profound betrayal of public trust.”
“We have fought incredibly hard to ensure that, despite the gravity of this deception, our support for children and families remains uninterrupted.
“Personally, uncovering the sheer depth of these lies has been emotionally devastating.
“We are deeply grateful to the police and the justice system for their rigorous work in ensuring accountability and securing this conviction.”
PC Emma Thomas from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Central Fraud Unit said that she is “pleased with the result and to see Alderton behind bars.”
“Her actions have caused both financial and emotional suffering, and I hope that prison gives her time to reflect on the consequences of her choices.”