Colin Nesbitt has been found guilty and will be sentenced in April 2021
The founder of a children’s cancer charity based in Bradford has been convicted of stealing in excess of £87,000 from his organisation, Little Heroes Cancer Trust.
The Secret Millionaire star Colin Nesbitt had firmly denied claims that he had profited financially from the charity, however, as reported by Yorkshire Live, he was found guilty following a 5-week-long trial at Bradford Crown Court.
Nesbitt, from Bradford, was also convicted of abusing his position as director of the charitable organisation. He is due to appear in court for sentencing on 30 April this year.
The 60-year-old told the jury that he founded the children’s cancer charity after his grandson developed cancer as he wanted to give children “a toy” during their stay in hospital.
Prosecutor James Lake informed jury members that Little Heroes Cancer Trust had fundraised through events but a percentage of the money was diverted to the charity’s director, Nesbitt.
He plundered thousands from the charity he helped set up https://t.co/3Ze9tuTyy2
— LeedsLive News (@leedslivenews) March 24, 2021
Lake accused the Secret Millionaire star of using the charity’s funds for his personal expenditure, including paying for a holiday abroad and buying a suit.
The prosecutor also told the jury that Nesbitt skimmed cash off the charity’s events.
Nesbitt featured on the Channel 4 programme Secret Millionaire in 2012 and was gifted a generous £100,000 donation from Andrew Feldman.
The 60-year-old was arrested in 2015, following concerns about Little Heroes Cancer Trust’s finances by the Charity Commission. However, Nesbitt denied any involvement in fraud and told police that he did not take a wage from the organisation or claim expenses on a frequent basis.
Nesbitt did admit, nevertheless, that finances were “not one of his strengths.”
