This is Plymouth --
A 17-YEAR-OLD girl has admitted taking more than £1,000 donated by charitable locals following the tragic death of a teenager.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, set up the charity fund.
She took the donations of more than 170 people who paid money into the fund, totalling £1,387.
Appearing at Plymouth Magistrates' Court yesterday, she pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation.
She spent the money on clothes and make-up, the court heard.
Prosecutor Carrie-Ann Rawlings told the court the girl had contacted a friend of the dead teenager on Facebook to suggest setting up a charity fund.
An account was set with a website where donations could be left in memory of the teenager, who also cannot be named.
Miss Rawlings said: "Nearly 200 people made donations of various amounts that totalled £1,700."
Friends of the teenager were then unable to contact the girl, and found she had blocked them on her Facebook account.
The 17-year-old was arrested on February 26 at her home and some of her belongings were seized by police, including two phones.
PayPal gave police details of the account holder including a phone number and bank details, which were all linked to the girl's address.
Miss Rawlings said: "She was interviewed by police on three separate occasions and throughout denied any connection to the fraud.
"She said her Facebook account had been hacked and she said there was more money in her account than usual but didn't think anything of it."
Will Willden, for the defence, said the girl had started out with good intentions.
He said: "She did contact the friend and intended to raise money. Don't think that she is a sophisticated fraudster.
"Accounts can be set up quickly in a matter of minutes without lots of forward planning. She set up a PayPal account and used some of those funds with the intention she would be able to replace them."
The court heard how the girl spent some of the money and then was unable to pay it back.
Mr Willden said: "At the earliest opportunity of speaking to a solicitor she has pleaded guilty. She is ashamed of what she has done. She is sorry for any hurt that may have been caused to the teenager's family."
Mr Willden said the girl is attending college and has gained an apprenticeship.
He said: "In my submission she did not set out with the intention to exploit that tragic situation.
"She started out with the intention to help and it went wrong and she buried her head in the sand. She has accepted responsibility for this."
Diana Baumer, chair of the magistrates' bench, asked the girl what had happened to the cash.
She said she had spent it on clothes and make up, and denied spending it on computers or on presents for anyone else.
Mrs Baumer said: "The money was all spent on yourself so really you were rewarding yourself.
The girl said: "It was silly really, it was a mistake."
The 17-year-old was given a nine-month supervision order and ordered to pay compensation of £1,387, which will be returned to the people who donated to the fund.
Mrs Baumer added: "This is your opportunity to turn yourself around, but you're going to have to pay that money back.
"Hopefully we will not see you back in court again."
DC Neil Goldsmith said after the trial: "It's been a very difficult case given the circumstances in which the money was donated.
"It's a shame for the people who donated the money that it didn't go where it was intended.
"There were large and small donations – some from friends of the teenager who could only afford to donate a couple of pounds.
"It was an inquiry made more difficult by the lack of admission and has caused people more upset on top of the tragic circumstances.
"I'm pleased about getting the money back and that she has admitted the mistake she made." Reported by This is 9 hours ago.
A 17-YEAR-OLD girl has admitted taking more than £1,000 donated by charitable locals following the tragic death of a teenager.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, set up the charity fund.
She took the donations of more than 170 people who paid money into the fund, totalling £1,387.
Appearing at Plymouth Magistrates' Court yesterday, she pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation.
She spent the money on clothes and make-up, the court heard.
Prosecutor Carrie-Ann Rawlings told the court the girl had contacted a friend of the dead teenager on Facebook to suggest setting up a charity fund.
An account was set with a website where donations could be left in memory of the teenager, who also cannot be named.
Miss Rawlings said: "Nearly 200 people made donations of various amounts that totalled £1,700."
Friends of the teenager were then unable to contact the girl, and found she had blocked them on her Facebook account.
The 17-year-old was arrested on February 26 at her home and some of her belongings were seized by police, including two phones.
PayPal gave police details of the account holder including a phone number and bank details, which were all linked to the girl's address.
Miss Rawlings said: "She was interviewed by police on three separate occasions and throughout denied any connection to the fraud.
"She said her Facebook account had been hacked and she said there was more money in her account than usual but didn't think anything of it."
Will Willden, for the defence, said the girl had started out with good intentions.
He said: "She did contact the friend and intended to raise money. Don't think that she is a sophisticated fraudster.
"Accounts can be set up quickly in a matter of minutes without lots of forward planning. She set up a PayPal account and used some of those funds with the intention she would be able to replace them."
The court heard how the girl spent some of the money and then was unable to pay it back.
Mr Willden said: "At the earliest opportunity of speaking to a solicitor she has pleaded guilty. She is ashamed of what she has done. She is sorry for any hurt that may have been caused to the teenager's family."
Mr Willden said the girl is attending college and has gained an apprenticeship.
He said: "In my submission she did not set out with the intention to exploit that tragic situation.
"She started out with the intention to help and it went wrong and she buried her head in the sand. She has accepted responsibility for this."
Diana Baumer, chair of the magistrates' bench, asked the girl what had happened to the cash.
She said she had spent it on clothes and make up, and denied spending it on computers or on presents for anyone else.
Mrs Baumer said: "The money was all spent on yourself so really you were rewarding yourself.
The girl said: "It was silly really, it was a mistake."
The 17-year-old was given a nine-month supervision order and ordered to pay compensation of £1,387, which will be returned to the people who donated to the fund.
Mrs Baumer added: "This is your opportunity to turn yourself around, but you're going to have to pay that money back.
"Hopefully we will not see you back in court again."
DC Neil Goldsmith said after the trial: "It's been a very difficult case given the circumstances in which the money was donated.
"It's a shame for the people who donated the money that it didn't go where it was intended.
"There were large and small donations – some from friends of the teenager who could only afford to donate a couple of pounds.
"It was an inquiry made more difficult by the lack of admission and has caused people more upset on top of the tragic circumstances.
"I'm pleased about getting the money back and that she has admitted the mistake she made." Reported by This is 9 hours ago.