A woman who conned the public with a fake charity appeal online has been handed a suspended sentence.

Kayleigh Joanne Jones, of Springfield Terrace, Castletown, made up a story about an eight-year-old boy who had returned home to find his father dead and was suffering from the trauma.

She set up a JustGiving charity page and raked in £1,865 of £2,250 that she was appealing for.

The 29-year-old was sentenced to three months custody, suspended for two years after admitting an offence of fraud by false representation and was also fined £200.

We previously reported how a member of the public who had donated to the appeal raised concerns with the police.

Jones was spoken to by the police and told them that she was having difficulties.

She was said to have almost convinced herself that the story about the boy and his family was true.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court how Jones had set up the appeal with Just Giving, on the internet. She then linked the Just Giving page to Facebook. She also set up a page on Facebook group called ’Be yourself’ which asked for money for therapy saying that the young boy was suffering from insomnia, nightmares, bed wetting and had even tried to end his own life since his father’s death.

The campaign was removed after investigations and when quizzed at police headquarters, Jones admitted setting up the fake campaign but said that all the money had been refunded.

She claimed she had set up the ’Be Yourself’ page to help others but it had spiralled out of control. She said that she had contacted Just Giving and they had refunded all the donations.

Jones claimed that she had wanted the money to fund her own charity to provide events for the public and said that she had convinced herself that the boy and his family were real, having conversations and meetings with them daily.

She said she had been in two minds whether to come clean but that she wanted to clear her conscience.

Proof that the money had been refunded was provided.

One complainant said that they had given £30 to the cause after being touched by it because their own father had died in similar circumstances.

They said that they had contacted Jones after they had found out it was a scam and Jones had told them: ’This is on me. There’s nothing that can justify it.’

Defence advocate James Peterson said: ’There was a complaint made but she has handed herself in to the police.

’Ms Jones fully apologises for what has happened. She doesn’t try to excuse her behaviour.

Good intention

’She set up the Facebook page and it became something of a hub for people with difficulties.

’The problem she had, was that she herself had certain difficulties. She did lie and deceive people.

’But she didn’t do it for personal gain.

’The money was for the purposes of helping within the community.

’There was at least an element of good intention. She was suffering from her own mental health difficulties which have contributed to her decision to do this.’

Mr Peterson went on to submit that Jones was particularly vulnerable at the time of the offence and that she had become ’overwhelmed’ but was now receiving support for her mental health.

Magistrates also ordered Jones to pay £50 costs.