Fraudster raised £6,500 in fake fundraising page for four men killed in road crash

Jason MacDonald created a GoFundMe after 4 younger males died in a automotive crash (Photos: SWNS/Wiltshire Police)

A person who helped arrange a faux fundraising web page after 4 younger males have been killed in a horror crash has been jailed.

Jason MacDonald, 38, claimed to be elevating cash for a non-existent memorial to the tragedy on the M4 close to Chippenham, Wiltshire, in August 2020.

He and a pal ended up elevating a in the present day of £6,479.59.

They claimed to be commemorating Jordan Rawlings, 20, Corey Owen, 19, Matthew Parke, 19, and Ryan Nelson, 20, who all died after drink driver Jordan smashed their automotive whereas it was going at 120mph.

MacDonald and Kyle Saunders, 18, shortly arrange a GoFundMe web page, asking the general public to donate for a everlasting memorial.

However in truth they have been attempting to ‘capitalise on the deaths of 4 younger males’, a court docket heard.

MacDonald was jailed for 26 months after he was convicted in October (Image: Wiltshire Police)

Jordan Rawlings, 20, was drink driving on the day of the automotive crash (Image: SWNS)

Corey Owen, 19, was killed within the automotive collision (Image: SWNS)

MacDonald was discovered responsible of possessing legal property referring to that fraud and possession with intent to provide class A medicine.

He had beforehand admitted fraud by false illustration and was ordered to pay £2,000 in compensation to GoFundMe.

Swindon Magistrates Court docket jailed him for 26 months on the finish of October.

Detective constable Kevin Golledge mentioned: ‘We hope this end result sends a robust message to others that we take such incidents critically and we received’t hesitate to take motion.

‘This was a despicable crime that noticed somebody attempt to capitalise on the deaths of 4 younger males.’

Police sergeant Wealthy Marshall added: ‘This can be a crime that has impacted the 4 youngsters’s household and the individuals who paid into the donation account.

Matthew Parke was simply 19 years previous when he died (Image: SWNS)

Ryan Nelson, 20, was additionally a passenger within the automotive (Image: SWNS)

‘We hope the sentencing will present that justice has been performed and I hope this brings some closure for the households of the 4 younger males.’

Saunders was given a 12-month neighborhood order when he was sentenced by the identical court docket in January this yr.

The order consists of 12 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

A real fundraising web page raised greater than £9,286. The cash was put in direction of a backyard of reflection which was constructed at Castlefield Park in Calne.

.