Man defrauded charity that helped him

A man has been jailed after defrauding a charity that helped him out of more than £6000.

Nathan King, 40, used the company code of Jimmy’s night shelter in Cambridge to book a “staggering” number of taxi journeys over four months, from February to May this year.

He fraudulently gave his key worker’s name along with the code to charge the journeys back to the charity.

Invoices and voice recordings from the taxi company were supplied to police and King, of Birdwood Road, Cambridge, later pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and breach of a suspended sentence order.

He was sentenced to one year and three months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court today (20 November).

Detective constable Luca Bellomo, who investigated, said: “King booked a staggering and excessive number of journeys over a four-month period, which cost the night shelter more than £6,000.

“The shelter is a vital lifeline for people living on the street and provides food, shelter and support for thousands of people across the city, including King himself.

“King was well aware he was not permitted to use the code or use a false name in order to make the bookings.

“We take cases of fraud extremely seriously and will do out utmost to bring offenders before the courts and work with partner agencies to recoup losses for companies, charities and individuals.”