Fundraiser guilty of fraud after pocketing cash collected for Lee Rigby's son

A fundraiser has been found guilty of pocketing cash collected for the young son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby.

Gary Gardner was today (Thursday) convicted of two counts of fraud after he recruited a string of celebrities to raise money for Rigby's six-year-old son Jack.

Leicester Crown Court heard how the fraudster spent up to £5,000 donated by the public for Jack Rigby on producing a charity music single which only raised £200.

Gardner, 56, denied fraud claiming the single was a flop because of "atrocious weather" at the launch event in London's Trafalgar Square in Feburary 2014.

The jury were also told how Gardner, of Old Holt Road, Medbourne, Leicestershire, spent profits on travel expenses in London.

The lorry driver had put on a series of truck-pull events across Leicestershire which were attended by thousands of people - including Fusilier Rigby's widow Rebecca and his young son.

He was cleared of one count of fraud which alleged he failed to keep a record of the amounts raised from fundraisers.

After verdicts were reached, Steven Kennell from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Drummer Rigby's son had "never received a penny" from Gardner.

Mr Kennell added: "Whatever his intentions in starting his fundraising, the jury agreed his activities constituted fraud in failing to transfer the funds to the beneficiary and spending funds on the charity single."