A charity treasurer who stole more than £15,000 from a dog rescue organisation to fund a gambling addiction has been sentenced at Newport Crown Court. Jade Evans, 43, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position after taking control of the Japanese Akita Welfare Trust's bank account.
Evans, of Ferndale, Rhondda, became treasurer of the charity in 2023 after the member overseeing its banking affairs moved abroad. She volunteered for the role and was described as "persistent" in obtaining the bank details, travelling from South Wales to Birmingham to collect the banking material.
Funds reduced to £41.55
The court heard there was more than £15,000 in the charity's account when Evans took over the finances. Concerns were raised after the balance fell to just £41.55. Evans claimed she had transferred funds to another account and was setting up a new bank account for the charity.
When asked to return the money, she sent screenshots purporting to show the funds had been moved back, but the images showed the banking app asking if that was the amount she wished to transfer before the transfer had taken place.
Charity member Joanne Turner was then chosen to take over the finances, but Evans failed to send her the relevant documentation, making excuses that family members were in hospital or the postmaster had left for the day. Ms Turner contacted Action For Fraud and travelled to south Wales to see Evans the following month.
Admission and sentencing
During her journey home, Ms Turner received a text from Evans saying she had "done something terrible". Evans admitted taking money from the charity account, saying she had "family issues" and needed help to cope after her husband suffered a stroke. She said she had not used the money for frivolous expenses but for household bills, and said she felt "disgusted" and "terrified".
An investigation revealed a lump sum of £13,600 had been transferred to Evans's account, along with 33 smaller payments, totalling £15,262. Kennel fees had not been paid since she took over the finances.
In a victim personal statement, Ms Turner said: "We have suffered tremendously. This was a serious breach of trust and has had a big impact on the Akitas we couldn't help as we couldn't afford to. Our funds reduced from a substantial amount of money to pennies and we had to pay back kennel fees."
In mitigation, Benjamin Jones said his client had apologised and shown genuine remorse. The court heard Evans had a "long standing and crippling" gambling addiction and is a carer for her youngest daughter who has learning difficulties.
Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams said: "You and you only are responsible for the mean offence you committed." Evans was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and a probation requirement.
