‘I was stupid’, admits charity boss guilty of misusing funds Pair made unlawful withdrawals
TWO founder members of an anti-bullying charity have admitted in court to misusing its funds.
David Turner and John Fisher, who launched Birmingham based Action 4 Bullying, pleaded guilty to abusing their position as trustees by making unlawful withdrawals of charity funds between September 2014, and May 2017.
The admissions were made before a judge, but both 26-yearold Turner and Fisher, 33, had confessed long ago on social media to borrowing cash.
The Birmingham Post’s sister paper, the Sunday Mercury, had gathered a number of public posts from the pair that provided police with key evidence.
In one, Fisher told parents: “Recently, I got into some personal difficulties and I lent some money from the project that has now been paid back.”
It adds: “The amount I loaned was a moderate amount, nowhere near enough to cause difficulty for the charity, but they have made this really personal, a personal attack on me.
“I ask you to consider the hard work and good I have done for that charity over the past three years when making your mind up about what’s happened.”
Another email states: “The money was actually loaned and never stolen. David (Turner) approved this. While I agree that is wrong, I have now paid the money back.”
When approached by a reporter, Turner, a vulnerable individual who set up the charity after himself becoming the victim of bullies, publicly apologised.
“I apologise for it. I feel I let the young people down,” he said. “The charity helped a lot of young people, 50 to 60 of them.
“I do regret it, it should not have happened. I have been stupid.”
The Crown Court hearing was told the amount that the pair, both of Billingham Court, Gravelly Hill, Erdington, benefited from was in dispute.
Martin Liddiard, prosecuting, said the sum for Fisher was between £26,000 and £27,000, while just over £3,000 for Turner.
What is not in dispute is the fact that organisations such as Children In Need and the Big Lottery voiced concerns about the way their substantial grants were being used, leading to the collapse of Action 4 Bullying last year.
The charity, based at Malcolm Locker Youth Club in Erdington, folded in November.
Judge Paul Farrer QC adjourned sentencing to discover the extent of Fisher and Turner’s “underlying culpability”.
He told them: “You have both pleaded guilty to what, on the face of it, is a serious charge.
“But there needs to be an investigation on both sides as to the extent of your underlying culpability.”
They will return to court for directions hearing on March 27.
I apologise for it. I feel I let the young people down David Turner
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