Mum admits spending charity's cash on takeaways

The director of a food bank has admitted to helping herself to almost £3,000 from the charity she was running to spend on shopping, travel and takeaways.

Claire Tempest, 39, pleaded guilty to fraud at Bradford Magistrates' Court on Thursday via a video link from her solicitor's office.

She took £2,945.80 from Helping Hands, a charity based in Bradford, between 8 August 2023 and 3 January 2025.

Tempest will be sentenced at Bradford Magistrates' Court on 4 August.

A report was made to Action Fraud by the Helping Hands treasurer in January, the court heard.

The charity, of which Tempest is director, is primarily a food bank, according to its website, but also provides white goods, furniture and toiletries to those in need.

Shabana Kaminski, prosecuting, said Tempest took money for "food shopping, travel and takeaway food such as from Uber Eats". Funds from the charity had been diverted to personal bank accounts.

She added that Tempest had said "she was the one who had been in need" in a police interview.

Sharan Dosanjh, mitigating, told the court: "She is deeply remorseful for her actions."

Ms Dosanjh added that Tempest had "also done a lot of good" in relation to her managing the food bank, including shopping for users of the service.

Tempest is the mother of two teenage children.

"She's embarrassed to be in court today," Ms Dosanjh said.

"At the time she was not aware that what she was doing was completely wrong."

A probation report will be provided to the court, as Tempest's offending passes the custody threshold, before she is sentenced.

Tempest was given unconditional bail and was told she should attend her sentencing hearing in person.

She set up Helping Hands in lockdown after receiving a food parcel which she then shared with others.

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