Latest news with #MeridaleYouthandCommunityCentre
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council candidate handed suspended jail sentence
A candidate who had been due to stand in a council election escaped jail by the "skin of his teeth" after defrauding a charity out of £28,000. Daniel Turner, 39, who was a manager and trustee at the Meridale Youth and Community Centre in Sutton on Sea, previously admitted fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position. At Lincoln Crown Court on Monday, Turner, of New End, Horncastle, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must also complete 120 hours of unpaid work in the community. The court heard Turner had used his position to divert more than £16,000 from Covid-19 grants to his own account between 2020 and 2022. Turner also admitted claiming £12,000 which was meant for a dementia group based at the centre. An impact statement from the Meridale trustees described Turner's actions as "a complete betrayal" of the organisation, which was set up by the late John Monk MBE. Passing sentence, Recorder Simon King told Turner his behaviour was "reprehensible" and that he had escaped jail by the "skin of your teeth". However, the judge accepted Turner had shown "genuine remorse" and was suitable for rehabilitation, adding he was satisfied Turner's children and ex-partner would suffer if he was jailed. Turner was announced as the Reform candidate for Louth North in the Lincolnshire County Council elections on 1 May, but stood down in March after indicating his guilty pleas at Boston Magistrates' Court. Reform UK said Turner's membership of the party had been suspended. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Reform candidate stands down over charity fraud HM Courts Service
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lincolnshire council candidate handed suspended jail sentence
A candidate who had been due to stand in a council election escaped jail by the "skin of his teeth" after defrauding a charity out of £28, Turner, 39, who was a manager and trustee at the Meridale Youth and Community Centre in Sutton on Sea, previously admitted fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of Lincoln Crown Court on Monday, Turner, of New End, Horncastle, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two must also complete 120 hours of unpaid work in the community. The court heard Turner had used his position to divert more than £16,000 from Covid-19 grants to his own account between 2020 and also admitted claiming £12,000 which was meant for a dementia group based at the impact statement from the Meridale trustees described Turner's actions as "a complete betrayal" of the organisation, which was set up by the late John Monk sentence, Recorder Simon King told Turner his behaviour was "reprehensible" and that he had escaped jail by the "skin of your teeth".However, the judge accepted Turner had shown "genuine remorse" and was suitable for rehabilitation, adding he was satisfied Turner's children and ex-partner would suffer if he was was announced as the Reform candidate for Louth North in the Lincolnshire County Council elections on 1 May, but stood down in March after indicating his guilty pleas at Boston Magistrates' UK said Turner's membership of the party had been suspended. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK candidate stands down over Lincolnshire charity fraud
A candidate who had been due to stand for Reform UK in a council election has pulled out after admitting defrauding a Turner, 39, who was a manager at the Meridale Youth and Community Centre, in Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position at Boston Magistrates' Court on from Horncastle, is due to be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on a date yet to be UK said Turner's membership of the party had been suspended. Turner was announced last month as the Reform candidate for Louth North in the Lincolnshire County Council elections on 1 replacement is due to be announced later this week. In a statement, Meridale trustees said Turner, who was formerly a trustee, centre manager and youth group leader, had betrayed the trust placed in said Turner was originally suspended and later dismissed in May 2022 for gross negligence and misconduct in relation to personal misuse of Meridale IT his dismissal, a thorough review and audit was conducted, the trustees said. Turner's actions had "significantly deprived" the organisation of total, trustees said he had defrauded the charity out of more than £28,600."This financial loss has delayed or curtailed projects and activities of direct benefit to Sutton-on-Sea, Trusthorpe and Mablethorpe," a spokesperson added that the trustees were determined to recover the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act.A Reform UK spokesman said: "No one is officially a Reform UK candidate until nomination papers are handed in."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
