Charity cheat steals old folks' Christmas

THIS IS the man who stole the old folks’ Christmas—and then walked free from court.

Charity cheat Victor Goodyear pocketed £1,570 from a kitty set up by the elderly to pay for trips, including a Christmas dinner, after winning their trust and becoming treasurer.

Goodyear (59)—whose claims that he stole the money to pay off his wife’s funeral expenses have been challenged by her family—was spared jail by Rotherham magistrates on Wednesday.

Night shift worker Goodyear was sentenced to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work for the community over 12 months and ordered to repay the stolen money.

But chairman of Kiveton Bungalow Users’ Group, Bill Sykes, and other members have been left furious.

“We handed this money over to a man who we thought we could trust and this is how he repaid us,” Mr Sykes said in a statement to the court.

The loss will hit events and outings—including Christmas dinners—organised by the group. 

The court heard that the group had decided that no-one would have a cash card for a new account set up last April to prevent unauthorised withdrawals.

Mr Sykes became suspicious when one arrived in Goodyear’s name but he handed it over to Goodyear after receiving reassurances.

Goodyear, of Keeton Hall Road, Kiveton Park, helped himself to £200 a day from the association's bank account on a number of dates between July and October this year.

He was arrested in October and told police he had large debts as a result of funeral expenses following the death of his wife.

He said that he had intended to pay back the money in full and expressed remorse.

In court, Goodyear broke down in tears as his lawyer addressed the magistrates.

Goodyear, who had no recent convictions but had a caution for car tax fraud in 1994, was said to have acted out of character due to mental health problems.

His solicitor, Mr Nigel Misson, said he had been suffering from anxiety made worse by the loss of his wife of just a few days from cancer.

Goodyear had tried to take out a loan for £1,500 to repay money he owed to a friend but it was withdrawn and he was asked to repay it, Mr Misson said.

He said debts got out of control around the time of his wife's death after he had taken time off work to care for her before she died in March last year, plus the cost of their wedding.

“He doesn't suggest he paid the whole of his wife’s funeral expenses, but he made a substantial contribution," Mr Misson said.

Goodyear had tried to take out other loans but they had been denied and on one occasion a “less than reputable” firm kept a £64 deposit although he did not get a loan.

The court was told that Goodyear, earning £200 a week at a food factory, had auctioned off property to raise £400 which he had brought to court.

The rest of the compensation, plus £85 prosecution costs, will be repaid at £100 a month.

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