A woman from Portsmouth has been jailed after pleading guilty to falsifying references to obtain employment with a local charity providing music therapy to children in hospital.
Claire Alderton appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on 19 June, where she was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
Alderton had been offered a job at George’s Rockstars in early 2024 as its trusts and foundations fundraiser, and was asked to provide two references from previous employers, which she did.
She later told staff at the charity, which was set up by family members of a six-year-old who died from leukaemia, that she had successfully secured funding from a foundation as part of her role.
In December 2024, Alderton informed her employer she had been diagnosed with cancer and stopped attending work, before cutting contact with the charity.
When George’s Rockstars contacted the foundation Alderton said she had secured a grant from, it was discovered that no application had ever been made.
Her referees, when contacted via LinkedIn, also said they had not written the references provided, and said emails purportedly from them were fake.
Charity founder: ‘Truly abhorrent’ deception
The charity made a referral to the national Report Fraud service and Alderton was arrested and charged. She admitted committing fraud by false representation, in dishonestly providing two false references to gain employment at a charity, intending to make a financial gain for herself.
It subsequently emerged in court that Alderton had not been diagnosed with cancer.
Amy O’Shaughnessy, George’s mother and co-founder of the charity, said: “To target charities, secure employment through deception, and fabricate a cancer diagnosis to the mother and founder of an organisation established in memory of a child who bravely fought that very disease is truly abhorrent.
“Furthermore, to falsify funding applications meant to support seriously ill children in hospitals is a profound betrayal of public trust.
“George’s Rockstars was created to preserve my son’s legacy and provide music therapy to families navigating their darkest hours in hospitals.
“While our services face immense demand, I have had to work tirelessly simply to prevent his legacy from going under due to her fraudulent actions.”
‘Targeting charity sector for personal gain’
O’Shaughnessy said the charity had fought to ensure that its support for children and families was not uninterrupted.
She added that being lied to had been “emotionally devastating” for her, and that George’s Rockstars was “deeply grateful” to the police and justice system in securing Alderton’s conviction.
Police officer Emma Thomas, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Central Fraud Unit, said in a statement: “I am pleased with this result and to see Alderton put behind bars for her actions.
“To knowingly and purposefully target the charity sector for personal gain is an appalling crime and one for which Alderton deserved to face justice for.
“Her actions have caused both financial and emotional suffering, and I hope that prison gives her time to reflect on the consequences of her choices.”
