Fraudster jailed after pretending to raise cash for sick child

Robert Harvey

Thursday, June 20, 2013
12:42 PM

Medway man to spend two years in prison

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A heartless fraudster has been jailed after hosting a number of events pretending to raise money for a young boy’s medical care fund.

Robert Harvey, 53, from Elmwood Road in Chattenden, near Rochester, has been sentenced to two years behind bars for the scam which came to light last year.

The four-year-old boy, from the Meopham area, had been born with a medical condition which requires ongoing care and specialist equipment, so his family had created a fund for him and began organising small local fundraisers.

Fraudster Harvey had seen posters advertising the local cause last summer and adapted them for his own benefit, replacing contact phone numbers with his own.

DC Kenneth Hearne, who led the investigation against Harvey, said the crook had selfishly exploited the public’s generosity in order to pocket hundreds of pounds for himself.

Kent Police was first alerted to Harvey’s fraudulent fundraising by the family of the boy after spotting a number of events being held by Harvey supposedly for their cause, including raffles for which Harvey offered a top prize of a one week caravanning holiday in Kent.

But when pressed on when he would be donating the takings to the fund, Harvey became evasive and the family called Kent Police.

When officers visited Harvey’s home to arrest him on October 3, 2012, officers discovered 17 cannabis plants growing in his spare room. Seven were matured plants in a specialist growing tent kitted out with lights, a ventilation system and electric timers. A further dozen were smaller immature cannabis plants growing in a cupboard.

They also found a fake police badge and handcuffs, which Harvey said he intended to use to make a citizen’s arrest, and a number of parking ticket envelopes which Harvey admitted he would sometimes place on friends’ vehicle windscreens as a practical joke.

Harvey was charged with dishonestly making false representation, by raising and collecting monies from the sale of raffle tickets and other activities said to be on behalf of the care fund, but intending to make cash for himself. He was also charged with producing a class B drug and with possessing or controlling articles to use in fraud.

He was convicted at Maidstone Crown Court last week of all three offences and sentenced to nine months for each of the fraud charges and a further eight months for the drugs offence.

DC Hearne said: “When the victim’s family first heard about the events Harvey had been hosting, they contacted Harvey to thank him and offer support. But it soon became apparent that Harvey had no real intention of handing over any money.

“He tried to use the boy’s condition and the public’s generosity to raise money for himself, with no regard for the boy’s care needs or well being.

“Now this matter has been resolved, the boy’s family can return to the matter of supporting him.”