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Toby Nye: Mum sentenced for gambling away cancer fund | Toby Nye: Mum sentenced for gambling away cancer fund |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A mother who gambled away more than £100,000 stolen from a fund set up to pay for her son's cancer treatment has been given a suspended sentence. | A mother who gambled away more than £100,000 stolen from a fund set up to pay for her son's cancer treatment has been given a suspended sentence. |
Leeds United fan Toby Nye, who had high-risk neuroblastoma, died in January just days after his sixth birthday. | Leeds United fan Toby Nye, who had high-risk neuroblastoma, died in January just days after his sixth birthday. |
His mother, Stacey Worsley, admitted fraud at a previous Leeds Crown Court hearing. | His mother, Stacey Worsley, admitted fraud at a previous Leeds Crown Court hearing. |
The 32-year-old was given a two-year jail term suspended for two years. | The 32-year-old was given a two-year jail term suspended for two years. |
Judge Guy Kearl QC said Worsley, the sole trustee of the fund, started gambling online with the donated money with the intention of increasing it to help her son. | Judge Guy Kearl QC said Worsley, the sole trustee of the fund, started gambling online with the donated money with the intention of increasing it to help her son. |
However, the nurse began to chase "spiralling" losses, he said, and had been under "extraordinary pressure" including having to look after two other young children. | However, the nurse began to chase "spiralling" losses, he said, and had been under "extraordinary pressure" including having to look after two other young children. |
The judge told Worsley: "You became overwhelmed by the situation in which you found yourself. | The judge told Worsley: "You became overwhelmed by the situation in which you found yourself. |
"No-one could fail to be moved by your story. | "No-one could fail to be moved by your story. |
"You were under enormous pressure and I have no doubt that all of this started as a result of you wanting to raise the money for his treatment." | "You were under enormous pressure and I have no doubt that all of this started as a result of you wanting to raise the money for his treatment." |
Worsley racked up £140,000 in gambling debts but the judge noted she had not spent any of the money on "luxuries" for herself. | Worsley racked up £140,000 in gambling debts but the judge noted she had not spent any of the money on "luxuries" for herself. |
Judge Kearl said: "This case is unique. The confluence of mitigating factors takes it far outside the norm and are unlikely to recur." | Judge Kearl said: "This case is unique. The confluence of mitigating factors takes it far outside the norm and are unlikely to recur." |
He said the money had been recovered from the online gambling companies and would be given back to major donors and other charities. | He said the money had been recovered from the online gambling companies and would be given back to major donors and other charities. |
Nicholas De La Poer, defending Worsley, said her gambling "became a compulsive distraction from the horrors of the situation". | |
West Yorkshire Police previously said Toby's medical treatment was not affected by the fraud. | West Yorkshire Police previously said Toby's medical treatment was not affected by the fraud. |
Toby, from Osmondthorpe, Leeds, became ill at Christmas 2016 and on his fourth birthday in January 2017, his family were told he had a stage four neuroblastoma tumour. | Toby, from Osmondthorpe, Leeds, became ill at Christmas 2016 and on his fourth birthday in January 2017, his family were told he had a stage four neuroblastoma tumour. |
He had struck up relationships with several players and staff at his beloved Leeds United. | He had struck up relationships with several players and staff at his beloved Leeds United. |
Last year, the club raised the £200,000 needed to fund his cancer treatment. Players and staff gave a day's salary and fans also donated. | Last year, the club raised the £200,000 needed to fund his cancer treatment. Players and staff gave a day's salary and fans also donated. |
Worsley had pleaded guilty to one charge of committing fraud by false representation. | Worsley had pleaded guilty to one charge of committing fraud by false representation. |
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |