A woman has been arrested after raising nearly £3,500 for her mother’s funeral and spending most of it on herself.
Danielle Kelly, 28, launched a GoFundMe page on May 31 last year, seeking donations to cover funeral costs following her mother’s death on May 9. On the page, she described her “loving, caring” mother’s wish for a simple burial, asserting that even a basic service would cost nearly £2,000, which she claimed she could not afford.
Through the crowdfunding site, Kelly raised £1,470 from 43 donors, alongside two additional £1,000 donations—one from an unnamed woman and the other from her uncle, as reported by the Cannock Magistrates’ Court in Staffordshire.
In her GoFundMe appeal, Kelly wrote: “(My mum) was a very loving, caring person, and I wish to give her a simple burial as she requested. Even for a simple burial, it is just under £2,000, and I cannot fund that by myself. I am asking for help to raise around £2,500 to cover my mother’s funeral and any extra expenses that may arise.”
However, on September 22, it was revealed that the funeral directors had not been paid, leading Derbyshire Council to cover the costs.
In a police interview, Kelly admitted to spending the £2,000 on “rent, bills, and living costs.” Prosecutor Sara Beddow noted that inquiries with Kelly’s bank confirmed a £2,000 deposit on June 30, but by August 3, her account balance was only £134.
“She obtained £3,470 for her mother’s funeral but did not use the money for its intended purpose, instead requesting the council to pay for it,” Beddow added. Compensation claims were made for the two individuals who contributed £1,000 and for Derbyshire Council, which paid £1,760.
Kelly, of Compton Road, Baswich, Stafford, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation. Representing herself, she expressed remorse, saying, “I committed the offense due to the financial circumstances I was struggling with at the time. I feel really bad for what I did, and I regret it.”
Kelly, who is currently unemployed, has not repaid any of the funds. District Judge Stephen Hayes sentenced her to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, along with a requirement for 15 days of rehabilitation activity and 140 hours of unpaid work. She was ordered to pay £1,500 in total compensation—£500 each to the three parties entitled to payment, with no additional costs ordered.
The judge remarked that an immediate jail sentence would have been appropriate but opted for suspension due to the delay in the case. He added, “It is hard to imagine how you could have acted in a worse way. Not only did you take advantage of the generosity of the public and close friends through a GoFundMe page, but you also deceived family members about how the money was spent.”