Bristol grandfather jailed for stealing charity cash
A grandfather who worked behind the bar at an amateur rugby club in Bristol has been sent to jail for stealing money out of charity boxes.
Wayne Morgan, aged 44, of Pennard Close, Whitchurch, was caught red-handed on CCTV emptying a Poppy Appeal tin and Clic Sargent collection box.
Police were called after club chairman Neil Roberts and vice-chairman Martin Hagan saw footage from the security camera and made a citizen's arrest.
Morgan was sent to prison for 17 weeks by Bristol Magistrates' Court, but will be released on parole after serving just half the sentence.
He had pulled pints at St Bernadette's Old Boys' Rugby Club for the last three years, where he was paid £5.73 an hour.
Club officials installed a camera above the bar last year following a spate of break-ins, which not only captured Morgan emptying the charity tins but also pocketing money from the cash till.
It showed him emptying the charity money onto the bar and counting it out.
It is estimated he stole hundreds of pounds, although the club has not been able to establish an exact figure for the amount of cash that went missing.
The CCTV footage shows him taking the charity money the day before Armistice Day in November last year.
The Poppy Appeal tin was full of cash from generous members after it was passed around the busy clubhouse only days earlier.
But it wasn't until the Royal British Legion arrived to collect the donations after November 11 that the club realised someone had tampered with the charity box.
It was then that they checked the CCTV recordings and spotted Morgan helping himself.
Club chairman Neil Roberts said: "We couldn't believe what we were seeing. There was someone who we had trusted to work for us for three years taking money from right under our noses.
"Once we realised he had taken money from the charity tins we checked the rest of the CCTV footage and saw him taking money out the till and pocketing crisps and chocolate bars.
"We waited until he next came into work and made a citizen's arrest.
"Any profit we make behind the bar goes back into the club, so in effect he has been stealing from every one of our members as well as the charities."
The CCTV system was installed following a number of break-ins at the clubhouse in Bamfield next to Whitchurch Sports Centre.
The club has more than 200 members and number of senior and junior teams playing in local rugby leagues.
This case comes after The Post reported earlier this week how drug addict Colin Rossiter, 30, was sent to prison for 18 weeks after he stole two Poppy Appeal tins in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.
Both thefts, one from St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol, were captured on CCTV.
An average Poppy Appeal tin collects between £40 and £100 in the run up to November 11.
Roger Duddridge, chairman of the City of Bristol Royal British Legion branch, said: "All the money raised in our boxes goes to help people far worse off than ourselves.
"So many charities rely on these donations and it's good that the courts appear to be taking a tough line on this type of crime.
"Maybe it will make other people think twice before stealing charity money."
49 Comments
View all
by LauraT, West Harptree
Monday, February 02 2009, 2:21PM
“Thats rather unpleasant. I thought Christians are supposed to listen, not say 'shut up, who asked you' !? You are one rather odd man Michael.”
by Mike, Bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 2:07PM
“I think you will find it not me going on. Any way shut up, who asked you.”
by LauraT, West Harptree
Monday, February 02 2009, 1:57PM
“Please be quiet Mike. You dont half go on! It is not a nice thing this man has done but it is what is known as 'petty crime'. Stop being pedantic.”
by Mike, Bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 1:43PM
“Unlike people of low moral grounding who think this is petti theft, I have bought children up properly, yet again you must understand sucker sorry soarer, that I don't think burning is correct, I stated James was angry, and I understand his anger. I dont understand ehco types like you. Why is it petti. I suppose you think 100 pound stolen from a pensioner is petti. It not the money, it's the low act, do-gooder surronding the theft, but I wouldn't expect you to understand. Certain people like savages act this way and I bet this was not the first time, what a lovely man you defend.”
by soarer, bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 12:50PM
“sorry Mike, you are so right and I am wrong. Sorry for being such a do gooder. Lets burn to death all thieves. I will get the petrol. Lets just hope your kids dont shoplift eh Mike? Or perhaps burgle a house? I mean you are such a principled man you would want the same punishment for them wouldnt you? got the wood yet?”
by Mike, Bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 12:30PM
“Petti theft of a charity collection, says soarer that's what he thinks of people who fought for this country. Again what a vile disgrace he is.”
by soarer, bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 12:05PM
“would you call it cunning, high crime by a criminal mastermind Mike? No it wasnt. It was a pathetic light fingered man who was either greedy ir desperate. You are a joke.”
by Mike, Bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 11:59AM
“Petti theft taking a charity box from a collection for soldiers who have died lost limbs and fought for the country, that's petti theft according to Soarer, what a vile man you are Soarer.”
by soarer, Bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 11:46AM
“I think I said the man was vile Mike- just not as vile as someone who suggests finger chopping and burning alive is ok. What he did was petty theft. Burglary and mugging is counted at petty theft. Hardly criminal mastermind was he? And in my book nicking money from a charity box, however bad, is not as bad as going into someones home and ransacking it for possessions or mugging someone with a knife. It is not victimless crime as every crime has a victim- however burglary and mugging effec individuals for a long time. So I have answered your question now answer mine”
by Mike, Bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 11:11AM
“The only question needs answering is why do you think the theft of a charity collection box by someone in a positin of trust is petti theft. Explain Soarer. Or is it the way you were brought up and not your faullt.”