‘Heroes’ swindler is jailed
A CON man has been jailed for a £50,000 swindle in which he set up a fake charity claiming to raise money for injured servicemen.
Marvin Trussell, 42, founded Army of Heroes to fraudulently collect cash and sell Help for Heroes-style rubber wristbands in Blackpool, Liverpool and Preston.
He claimed the charity supported servicemen suffering battlefield injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, with uniformed collectors each netting Trussell a cool £500-a-week. Shockingly, the crook was even spotted rattling a collection tin outside Blackpool’s Sea Life Centre on the first day of his trial.
Trussell was branded “mean and exploitative” by Judge James Adkin as he jailed him for three years. Judge Adkin said: “The organisation was entirely dishonest. You never kept a JIMMY McCLOSKEY single record and there has never been any contact with any individual charity. “You never had any intention that the money would go to those with life changing injuries as a result of serving in the armed forces.”
Preston Crown Court heard how Trussell, of St Annes, Lancs, was caught after being questioned by Trading Standards officers last January.
He claimed he had intended to register the enterprise as a charity or Community Interest Company – but had failed to complete four separate applications. The Army of Heroes website also claimed these applications were “pending”– but Judge Adkin branded this a “cunning” ruse by Trussell.
He denied participating in a fraudulent business but was convicted by jurors after just 20 minutes on Tuesday.