# Fraudulent fundraising leaves a bad smell

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/1998/06/02/fraudulent-fundraising-leaves-bad-smell/
- Published: 1998-06-02T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Two men who posed as collectors for a cancer charity have each been jailed for
18 months.**

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Steven Bain and Steven Gawthorp, from Southport,
Merseyside, had built up a collection of 10,000 pairs of used socks as part of a
sexual foot fetish. They told the men whom they tricked into handing over their 
socks that the charity received £300 for every 300 pairs collected.

Some “victims” were photographed holding up their socks, while others were persuaded
back to one of the men’s flat where they were encouraged to engage in perverted 
activities. Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit acts of gross indecency.
It does not appear that they received any sentence for their fraudulent fundraising.

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Read UK Fundraising’s coverage of other [scams](https://fundraising.co.uk/1999/02/12/possible-scams-against-charities/)
and alleged frauds.

 * **[Double your money](https://fundraising.co.uk/1998/06/11/double-your-money/)**(
   11 June 1998)
 * **[How to fundraise #1](https://fundraising.co.uk/1998/07/09/how-fundraise-1/)**(
   9 July 1998)
 * **[Fundraising in the pink](https://fundraising.co.uk/1998/09/14/fundraising-pink/)**(
   14 September 1998)