Fraudster jailed after pocketing cash collected for murdered soldier Lee Rigby's son

A “despicable” fraudster who pocketed cash collected for the son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has been handed a two-and-a-half year jail sentence.

Lorry driver Gary Gardner, 56, was told he will serve half of his sentence behind bars after being jailed for two counts of fraud.

Gardner – who has previous convictions for theft and fraud – was convicted after an eight-day trial heard he had used charity funds raised for Mr Rigby to “prop up” his overdrawn bank account.

Although the 56-year-old paid around £4,000 to other charities after a series of high-profile fund-raising events, he failed to pay over a penny of a further £20,250 donated by the public to help Fusilier Rigby’s young son, Jack Rigby.

As Gardner, of Old Holt Road, Medbourne, Leicestershire, was handed his sentence, the court heard he had caused further trauma to Lee Rigby’s widow Rebecca.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said she was disgusted at Gardner’s actions and the court proceedings had forced her to relive her attendance at the trial of her husband’s killers, putting her in a “daunting” emotional place.

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She said: “I feel that this matter with Mr Gardner will draw the eyes of the world upon us again.

“I feel disgusted about Mr Gardner not making good his promises with regard to my son and abusing my family name.”

Jailing Gardner at Leicester Crown Court, Recorder Helen Malcolm QC told him: “There has been an impact on every one of those who volunteered to assist you. Not one penny of the sums that you collected have been paid to Jack Rigby.

“Not only was the principal victim particularly vulnerable, there has been trauma to the family, particularly trauma to Rebecca Rigby, putting her through a second trial when she might quite reasonably have been left in peace.”

She said while Gardner may not have set out to fraud, what he did was “undoubtedly dishonest”, adding: “I would say it was indeed despicable.”

The trial heard that Gardner staged truck-pull events in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the Leicestershire villages of Medbourne and Market Harborough, and Stroud in Gloucestershire.

The events were attended by thousands of people, including Fusilier Rigby’s widow and son.

Jurors, who cleared Gardner of a third charge of fraud, heard claims he had wasted much of the money collected producing a charity single which proved to be a flop.

Defence counsel Helen Johnson said Gardner had arranged for his solicitors to pay a cheque for £3,050 to Jack’s trust.

In mitigation, she told the court: “We say Mr Gardner has expressed remorse for the impact his behaviour has had on Rebecca Rigby.

“He worked extremely hard, to the point of exhaustion. His abilities were perhaps not matched to his energy and his wish to do good work.”

Gardner, who the judge said had not used the charity funds to live a lavish lifestyle, will face a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing in December.

In a statement issued after the sentencing, Mrs Rigby said: “On behalf of myself and Jack I would like to thank the residents of Medbourne, the police and members of the court for all their help and support.

“I would also like to thank the members of the jury for coming to the right and justified conclusion.”