Bullying charity founders convicted of plundering donations

Action 4 Bullying − which ran sessions from Malcolm Locker Youth Club in Erdington − was established in 2014 by John Fisher and David Turner.

Their pledge registered with the Charites Commission was the “protection of good health among children in north Birmingham… to provide structured support, learning and recreational activities to promote confidence and self-esteem".

They set up crowdfunding projects, recruited volunteers and secured grants totalling £122,000 over three years, including £26,457 from BBC Children in Need, £9,100 from Birmingham City Council, and £7,400 from West Midlands Police.

A Facebook message posted by 35-year-old Fisher in June 2015 urged people across the West Midlands and beyond to dig deep for their worthy cause as “we are currently very low on funding".

However, the reason the charity was low on funding was due to Fisher’s online gambling habit which he funded by helping himself to donations.

Detectives would later find from Fisher’s bank statements that between September 2014 and May 2017 he squandered £31,621 playing online slots machines and other games.

Over the same dates he transferred £37,501 from the coffers of Action 4 Bullying but also gambled directly from the charity’s PayPal account.

Turner also transferred £24,787 into his own accounts but in April 2017 the 28-year-old − worried by Fisher’s behaviour − disclosed what was going on to another charity trustee who contacted West Midlands Police.

Both men were arrested in 2017 on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.

The charity’s finances and those of Fisher and Turner were forensically examined − and it exposed the full extent of their greed.

Message exchanges between the pair − who lived in separate flats in Gravelly Hill, Erdington − were also recovered.

On April 16 2016 Fisher wrote: “I need to be honest with you, I’m really struggling and have been gambling heavily. I want us to consider going back to cheque withdrawals to protect the project. I feel so angry with myself."

However, over the following weeks he asked for money under the auspices of buying train tickets, settling a council tax debt, and to pay his cleaner − but on each occasion lost the money through online gambling.

On one occasion Turner − who knew Fisher was a gambling addict but still allowed him to take charity cash − replied: “I’m happy to do that (lend you the money) as I want to help you get back on track."

Detectives also discovered Fisher pawned a charity laptop and a mobile phone while on a trip out with children under his care.

Turner admitted being “naïve and stupid" but denied he had acted dishonestly, while Fisher claimed his partner allowed him to access funds under the condition money was repaid in instalments.

However, both accepted such a ‘deal’ was in breach of the terms and conditions set out by the companies providing the funding.

They went on to admit the charge and at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday Fisher was jailed for 30 months and Turner handed a 22-month prison term suspended for two years.

Action 4 Bullying has since folded.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Jade Southern, said: “Turner has experienced bullying and so wanted to set up a charity. He met Fisher via Facebook and he had the qualifications and know-how to get the project up and running.

“Turner was initially the founder but Fisher began to exert more influence and seized the title of project manager. There is no doubt Fisher intimidated Turner and when he was initially confronted over missing money he threatened to sack Turner.

“This was a charity designed to tackle bullying and help sufferers…but Fisher himself was a bully, intimidating Turner and seeing the charity as a revenue stream for himself.

“Company documents stipulated they could each claim £10 a day in expenses. But they actually both helped themselves to tens of thousands of pounds.

“Turner knew about Fisher’s gambling but authorised payments even though he knew the money was probably going to be gambled. And Turner admitted fudging the figures and lying to trustees at bi-monthly meetings.

“I’m pleased the courts have recognised the seriousness of Fisher’s fraud and the roles both these men played in stealing charity money which should have been used to fund good causes.

“And I’d like to thanks the victims, the organisations who donated money in good faith believing it would be used to help vulnerable children, for their patience whilst this case was thoroughly investigated.

“We’ve secured a Proceeds of Crime Order against the men and we will look to retrieve any cash or assets the men have. The order will hang over them and we can seize money or property in the future."