Desperate man used Knighton charity's account to buy cake and tobacco

Derek Gibbons used to volunteer for Knighton Community Centre and he knew it had a system in place to buy items it needed from the local Co-op.

The 38-year-old of Barclay House, Church Street, Knighton, admitted fraud by false representation at the Co-op on Bridge Street, Knighton on July 9 2025, when he appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court on Tuesday (June 16).

Prosecuting, Victoria Vasey said Gibbons had been a volunteer at the centre and as a result he knew that there was a system in place for staff and volunteers to purchase items for the centre at the local Co-op.

She said that although he was no longer a volunteer he went into the Co-op and bought a cake and some tobacco worth £37.50 and he claimed it off the community centre.

Ms Vasey said: “Co-op staff thought this was strange and they reported it to the community centre and the centre confirmed that he did not have the authority to buy these items.

“There was also a second attempt to claim £150 of goods but the transaction did not go through,” said Ms Vasey.

She said Gibbons has two previous convictions from 2018 but they are not like matters.

Mitigating, Gavin Rofer said Gibbons had admitted the offence at the first opportunity.

He confirmed that at the time of the offence Gibbons was not an active volunteer for the community centre but he knew that staff and volunteers could make purchases for items for the centre, sign a receipt and they would be placed on the centre's account.

Mr Rofer said: “Gibbons has had complex medical problems since he was born. He was born and diagnosed with cerebral palsy and he has a blood clot on his brain which causes epilepsy and it gets worse with stress.

“At this time his mother had just passed away and that caused him to go into a deep depression and it exacerbated his medical condition significantly.

“Because he was so focused on that and his mental health he missed a number of appointments with Universal Credit and it led to his money being stopped and he was sanctioned and it caused him financial problems, and so out of desperation he did what he did.

“One of the things that helps him to manage his stress is smoking and that is why he did what he did because he just could not afford it.

“He is deeply apologetic for his actions. This was a one-off offence because he knew the system, which was not particularly robust in terms of security and he was desperate and did not have any money and he took that opportunity.”

The court was told the goods were not recovered and the payment system used by Knighton Community Centre has now changed.

Magistrates fined Gibbons £80 and he was ordered to pay £37.50 compensation to Knighton Community Centre.

He will also have to pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.