Liverpool busker jailed for pretending to collect money for Hillsborough charity
A Liverpool busker who duped people into thinking he was collecting money for a Hillsborough charity has been jailed for 4 months
A Liverpool busker who duped people into thinking he was collecting money for a Hillsborough charity has been jailed for 4 months
62 year old Angus Carpenter played the bagpipes on Church Street in Liverpool City Centre draped in a 'Justice for the 96 banner' on the 14th April 2015 - the day before the anniversary into the Hillsborough disaster.
He has been sentenced after being found guilty of fraud after a trial at Crown Court.
Passing sentencing the Judge, Recorder Michael Smith said:
"I'm sure you chose to use the banner deliberately and cynically. It was a mean spirited offence"
"I need to say very little about the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, and it's cause which is dear to the heart of Liverpudlians"
"You deprived the families the campaign supporters of the intended donations, and risked damaging the reputation of the Justice campaign"
Kenneth Derbyshire, the Chairman of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign told the court that he allowed Mr Carpenter to use a banner of his own making as a personal tribute to the campaign, but he was not to collect money on behalf of the group.
The court was told that when Police told Carpenter to remove the banner on April 14th, he refused, claiming he was going to "fight this" having agreed the design
Recorder Smith passing sentencing said the 62 year old insisted his innocence and that he was entitled to collect money using the Justice for the 96 banner.
He said: "While you may still think you have done nothing wrong, the people of Liverpool may think differently"