A charity treasurer who stole more than £100,000 of donations intended for Cancer Research UK has been jailed.

Ian Smith, 54, of London Road, Clacton, had previously pleaded guilty to the count of fraud by abuse of position, having used charity donations to fund his own lifestyle.

On Tuesday, he was jailed for 40 months at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Officers from Essex Police Serious Economic Crime Unit (SECU) began investigating the case in May 2021 following a report that money raised and pledged to Cancer Research UK through Clacton’s Relay for Life had not been submitted between 2018 and 2019.

Clacton’s Relay for Life is a small community team run by volunteers, dedicated to raising money for the charity in the area.

At the time of the report, Smith volunteered as their treasurer.

Essex Police's investigation found that over a period of several years, Smith defrauded the charity of more than £100,000 of donations, raised by volunteers through community activities such as sponsored car washes, charity auctions and races.

When asked to account for the loss of donations, Smith submitted forged documents to the charity.

During questioning by officers, he defended his actions by saying that amounts may have been incorrect due to stress.

He admitted to keeping some cash donations for himself.

Evidence showed that Smith had also been living above his means.

A Proceedings of Crime Act hearing will take place at a future date to ascertain whether any of the funds can be recovered.

Detective Constable Joanna Barnes, of SECU, said: “We’ve worked closely with Cancer Research UK throughout the investigation to find the person responsible and prevent the loss of future donations.

“It’s unfathomable how anyone could try and justify using charity donations given in good faith to fund their own lifestyle and heart-breaking to think about the positive ways this money could have been used if it had reached the charity.

“The vast majority of team members for Clacton’s Relay for Life give up their own time and money to organise events.

"They work incredibly hard to raise money for a charity that funds lifesaving research for a disease that touches so many people’s lives.

“To think that their own team member could do something this disgraceful is beyond comprehension."

Trudy Stammer, head of supporter-led fundraising at Cancer Research UK, added: “We are shocked and disappointed by the actions of Ian Smith.

"We rely on the generosity and goodwill of the public in helping to raise money for our life-saving work. Mr Smith has betrayed our trust and let down both our supporters and colleagues."