Fundraiser denies nine fraud charges

A FATHER who set up a fund to raise money for his son's cancer treatment has denied stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds and fraudulently using the donations.

Kevin Wright, 49, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court charged with 11 counts of theft and nine counts of fraud, with some of the offences relating to other children's charities and appeal funds.

His wife Jacqueline Wright, 42, is accused of converting criminal property but was not asked to enter a plea.

Ten of Mr Wright's charges relate to funds to treat his son Bobby for cancer. They were given to the Bobby Wright Cancer Fighting Fund, or to a company called Bobby's Fund.

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Mr Wright has links to the Tiverton area and fundraising events took place throughout Mid Devon.

Nottinghamshire Police said the charges related to "charities and appeal funds which were run on behalf of a number of children across the country".

Bobby's Fund was set up in 2005 when the couple's then three-year-old son was suffering from neuroblastoma — which affects fewer than 100 children in the UK each year.

Mr and Mrs Wright wanted to raise £200,000 to send him to a specialist cancer centre in New York for treatment. One charge alleges that Mr Wright continued to collect money to pay for the treatment when he no longer required it.

Mr Wright was also involved in other fundraising operations around the country including Callum's Appeal, for a young boy with cancer.

The court heard that Wright is alleged to have stolen or fraudulently used more than £285,000 relating to all offences with which he is charged. The couple, previously of Kenn, near Exeter, but now of Tamworth, Staffordshire, were granted bail and will appear at Nottingham Crown Court on January 11.