LEE RIGBY’S SON ‘STUNG BY CHARITY FRAUD’
Fundraiser accused of spending cash meant for murdered soldier’s six-year-old
A FUNDRAISER who collected thousands of pounds for the son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby allegedly kept the cash.
Gary Gardner, 54, of Leicester, is charged with fraud over claims none of the money went to six-year-old Jack.
CHARITY fundraiser Gary Gardner has been accused of spending cash meant for murdered Lee Rigby’s son on making a single with his band.
And money raised from the song was meant to go to six-year-old Jack but the youngster never saw a penny, it is claimed.
Gardner, 54, is due in court to face three charges of fraud over the alleged scam.
He set up truck-pulls which attracted thousands of onlookers to raise cash to put into a trust for the drummer’s boy and other charities.
Music, media and event specialist Gardner manages a band called Together in Harmony which he says is a “group of up and coming artists from all over the UK” supporting many different charitable causes.
He claimed on his Linked In profile that it released a “charity single” which was “raising funds for the Fusilier Aid Society and a trust fund for Fusilier Lee Rigby’s son”. But it is alleged the youngster never received a penny from any of the events. Apart from fraud, Gardner, from Leicester, is also accused of abusing his position as a trustee and spending funds raised on a music single. He is due to appear at Leicester crown court over the allegations. The three charity truck-pull events organised by the former pastry chef – at Medbourne and Market Harborough, Leics, between 2013 and 2015 – were attended by Lee’s grieving family and comrades. His 33-year-old widow Rebecca was at one of the events with Jack.
Teams of 15 took part in the pulls. One was from 2 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the battalion Lee served with before he was barbarically hacked to death outside his barracks at Woolwich, South East London on May 22, 2013.
Rebecca said after one event: “It’s been a great day and it’s a great turn-out.”
Gardner, who is also director of a company called Out of the Box Productions, was quoted as the “organiser” of one event and he told local reporters: “It was the biggest party the village had seen for a long time.” He added: “The event completely took over the village.”
Jack was just two years old when his dad was killed by Muslim converts Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22.
Adebolajo was given a whole-life term and Adebowale was jailed for a minimum of 45 years for the murder of Lee, who was originally from Middleton, Manchester.
In 2015, Jack penned a loving tribute to his father as a memorial bronze drum and plaque were placed in Memorial Gardens, in the town. The boy, who was then four, wrote on a floral tribute : “Me and Mummy miss and love you lots - love Jack xxx.”
Also at the ceremony were the soldier’s mother, Lyn, stepfather Ian and dad Philip McClure. Speaking at the event, regimental secretary of the Lancashire Fusiliers Colonel Mike Glover said: “Lee Rigby paid the ultimate sacrifice when the horror of the battlefield was brought to the streets of Woolwich.
“That day will forever be embedded in our nation’s history and for many here today it will remain forever in our hearts.
“Lee’s death sent shockwaves around the world.”
Rebecca was estranged from Lee at the time of his shocking murder.