Treasurer funnelled thousands from hospice charity to fund gambling habit
Plus: Sub-zero temperatures in Ashfield weather forecast ❄️
Good morning, readers, and welcome to your Thursday briefing from Ashfield News. In today’s edition, a woman is sentenced after funneling money meant for a hospice, a chilly forecast and much more.
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Treasurer sentenced after defrauding hospice charity
A former treasurer has been sentenced after stealing nearly £6,500 from a hospice charity, funnelling the funds into her own account to spend on online gambling.
Julie Scotney, 64, from Edwinstowe, was entrusted with the finances of the Edwinstowe Hospice Support Group, which raises money for the John Eastwood Hospice in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
However, over a two-year period, from February 2020 to January 2022, Scotney diverted donations intended to support the hospice into her personal bank account.
Most of the stolen funds came from the charity’s popular coffee mornings, a key fundraiser for the hospice that takes place four times a year.
The missing money, which represented three years’ worth of fundraising, was used to cover Scotney’s gambling addiction.
The fraud was initially hidden due to Scotney’s deceptive tactics. She created fake bank statements to make it appear as though the donations had been properly transferred to the charity.
When other board members began to question the discrepancies, Scotney ignored their attempts to contact her, including emails, phone calls, and home visits.
Despite repeated promises to repay the missing money, including a false claim made on Christmas Eve 2021, Scotney continued to delay returning the funds.
This prompted the charity to involve the police, who soon uncovered evidence of Scotney accessing numerous gambling websites during the period of the theft.
At Nottingham Crown Court on 12 November, Scotney pleaded guilty to charges of fraud by abuse of position and false accounting.
Recorder Balraj Bhatia KC condemned her actions as an “abuse of trust” and noted the “sustained period of dishonesty” involved.
Scotney was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity days.
Detective Sergeant Marc Lancaster, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: "She chose to abuse her position and cause significant harm to a charity that relied on donations to support a very worthy cause."
Brrrrace yourself for a chilly week
It’s time to wrap up warm! Weather forecasters are warning temperatures in Ashfield could fall below zero in the next week.
The rest of this week will follow a similar pattern of being mild and cloudy, with high temperatures of 7C forecast on Friday.
However, moving into next week, latest Met Office data suggests temperatures could fall below zero, with a lowest possible temperature of -7C for Monday and Tuesday next week.
While this is the lowest possible temperature, forecasters state the temperature is more likely to hover between 0C and 5C across both days, although it will feel like it is below zero at times.
The Met Office so far has not issued a snow warning for our area, though the long-term BBC forecast indicates there could be some wintry showers by Tuesday next week.
Bridges set to get temporary repairs
Thousands of pounds is set to be spent on temporary repairs to two bridges along the Skegby and Teversal trails.
Ashfield District Council is being asked to approve a £51,211.54 budget for the project, which officials says will ensure continued public access while longer-term solutions are explored.
The trails, part of former railway lines, are popular for walking, cycling, and horse riding, but have been partially closed since April 2024 due to safety concerns over the deteriorating condition of the two bridges.
The temporary repairs will involve the installation of structures around the existing bridges to allow access for landowners and the public.
The council is also conducting further structural surveys on 12 other assets along the trails, including bridges, tunnels and culverted watercourses.
These assessments, due to be completed by the end of December 2024, will inform recommendations for future repairs and replacements.
Cabinet members have been asked to agree that the temporary solution will remain in place for at least six months while officers explore external funding opportunities for long-term repairs.
Potential funding sources include the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.
The trails, once part of the old colliery railway system, have significant historical value and continue to be vital recreational routes in the area.
The council aims to preserve these assets, which were transferred to Ashfield District Council in 1974, while maintaining their safety and accessibility for residents and visitors.
The project will be discussed by Ashfield District Council’s cabinet on Monday.
Heating roadshows taking place
Residents are invited to two free HEAT Hub events this month, offering expert guidance on improving the energy efficiency of their homes.
Organised by Nottingham Energy Partnership (NEP) with support from Ashfield District Council, the sessions will be held at Teversal Manor Room, Buttery Lane, Teversal.
The first event, the Home Energy Efficiency Workshop, takes place on Saturday, 9 November, from 9:30am to 11:30am.
It will cover government grants, solar panels, air source heat pumps, and energy-saving plans.
The second event, How to Insulate Traditional and Victorian Homes, will be held on Wednesday, 27 November, from 6:30pm to 8pm.
This workshop will explore insulation methods for older homes, including energy-efficient retrofitting and bio-based materials.
Both events are free, with refreshments provided. To book a place, visit the HEAT Hub website or call 0115 985 3000.
Arrest after spate of fires in town
A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a spate of fires in Hucknall caused damage to vehicles and property.
Emergency services were called to multiple incidents across the town between 10pm on Monday, 11 November, and 12.20am on Tuesday, 12 November, including fires in Griffiths Way, Pagett Close, Story Gardens, and Whyburn Lane.
In total, five vehicles, a wheelie bin and a fence were set alight.
Police and fire services are investigating whether the fires are linked and are urging the public to come forward with any information.
This includes dashcam, doorbell, CCTV, or mobile phone footage from the night of the incidents.
The arrested man, 31, remains in police custody as investigations continue.
Inspector Chris Boylin from Ashfield's neighbourhood policing team emphasized the serious nature of the attacks, stating, "Arson can have catastrophic consequences.
“These fires not only risk lives but waste valuable emergency services' time."
Police patrols have been increased in Hucknall in response, and officers will continue working with the fire service to gather evidence and prevent further incidents.
A spokesperson from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service also condemned the fires, warning that deliberate fire-setting can endanger both people and wildlife, as fires can quickly spread.
They called on anyone with information to assist in bringing those responsible to justice.
Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious or has relevant footage is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 760 of 11 November 2024, or to report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.