A man from Bolsover, Derbyshire, has been charged with fraud after he created 40 clothing bins for a fake armed forces charity.

Daniel McAllister, 48, has been charged with fraud by false representation after he set up the clothing bins across Chesterfield, Sheffield, Mansfield and Amber Valley collecting on behalf of ‘Help our Fallen Heroes’.

However, there is no such charity registered with that name.

McAllister was arrested in April following a police search of his home. He will appear before Chesterfield magistrates on 22 July, under the allegation that proceeds from the clothing he accumulated did not go towards the advertised purpose.

The Cup Trust gift aid tax avoidance scandal has put charity fraud in the news in recent months, as did the arrest of former Shelterbox CEO Tom Henderson on suspicion of money-laundering.

Earlier this month the latest report from the National Fraud Office revealed that 10 per cent of charities with an income over £100,000 were victims of fraud during financial year 2011/12.

And in May, Crimestoppers launched a 24/7 reporting service for instances of charity fraud.

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