[A] WOMAN has been sentenced for an £8,000 fraud which included taking money collected for charities and forging her dad’s signature.
Carlisle Crown Court heard Nicole Humm committed the crime after taking on a voluntary treasurer’s role for the North Lakes 4×4 Club in 2013 when aged 20.
She had no experience of such a position, had no training and possessed a C-grade maths GCSE.
Between 2013 and 2016, Humm fraudulently took an estimated £8,000 from the private members’ group, which promotes off-road driving.
But after a new treasurer took over, it was found Humm had failed to bank club money. She had also forged her committee member father’s signature on a number of cheques, and taken cash raised in aid of charities.
Hundreds of pounds, the court was told, had been collected for each of the Bobby Robson Foundation, Cancer Research and the Cumbria flood appeal.
Humm, now aged 25 and of previous good character, admitted a charge of fraud by abuse of position.
She was sentenced today (FRI) by Recorder John Corless. He heard Humm, of The Crofts, Silloth, was “ashamed” of criminal conduct and intended to pay the cash back.
After hearing mitigation, Recorder Corless suspended a four-month prison sentence for a year. In addition, Humm must complete 200 hours’ unpaid work and made subject to a £4,000 compensation order.
“I hope and suspect these courts won’t see you again,” the judge told her.
“It is a blot on your career but you should take it as a salutary lesson.”
