In a troubling case of betrayal, Lindsay MacCallum, 61, has been mandated to repay over £70,000 after stealing funds from a cancer charity established in memory of her best friend’s daughter. The Rainbow Valley charity, co-founded by MacCallum and Angela MacVicar, became the target of significant embezzlement over a decade-long period.
MacCallum’s deceit extended beyond just Rainbow Valley; she also misappropriated £9,505 from the Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity dedicated to stem cell donations. After pleading guilty to two counts of fraud, she was sentenced to three years in prison in October.
During a recent session at Falkirk Sheriff Court aimed at recovering the stolen funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Advocate Deirdre Flanagan revealed that MacCallum had pilfered a total of £95,483.48 from both charities. Though she has already returned £25,000 to Rainbow Valley, the court issued a confiscation order demanding the repayment of the outstanding £70,483.48.
The court highlighted that MacCallum had committed these acts while possessing significant financial resources, boasting personal wealth amounting to £175,000.
Sheriff Craig Harris acknowledged the complexity of the case and postponed further proceedings until December 11, aiming to facilitate the return of funds to the affected charities.
Typically, money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act is directed to the treasury or central bank. A previous trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court indicated that MacCallum served as a fundraising manager for Anthony Nolan Trust from 1995 until 2012 before partnering with MacVicar to launch Rainbow Valley. This foundation was born out of tragedy when MacVicar lost her daughter Johanna to leukaemia in 2005.
The partnership lasted for ten years but ultimately dissolved in 2022. This fallout led to investigations that unveiled discrepancies within accounts linked to fundraising efforts.
As this case unfolds further in court, it raises pressing questions about oversight in charitable organizations and the measures necessary to protect against similar fraudulent activities in the future. The commitment to recover these funds signifies an important step towards justice for those affected by this breach of trust.
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