A woman accused alongside her husband of converting money dishonestly raised through sick children’s fundraising appeals has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Jacqueline Wright, 43, and her 49-year-old husband Kevin each faced a charge of converting criminal property in relation to more than £196,000.
Prosecutors alleged that the money was raised after Kevin Wright launched various schemes to raise money for the couple’s son Bobby and other children suffering from cancer.
Just as the prosecution case was set to end at Nottingham Crown Court, Judge Greg Dickinson QC directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict for both defendants because prosecutors could not prove how much of the £196,000 was raised legitimately and how much was not.
He told jurors: “The upshot of that is that having considered it the prosecution have elected to proceed no further.”
Once the jury had formally cleared Jacqueline Wright, who faced just one charge, the judge said to her: “Mrs Wright, the jury have returned a verdict of not guilty.
“That’s the end of this long running saga as far as you are concerned. You are free to go.”
Mrs Wright remained in the public gallery to watch the remainder of her husband’s trial.
He was originally charged with 20 offences but, after consideration, prosecutors decided to proceed no further with six of those counts.
The judge invited jurors to return not guilty verdicts in respect of the converting criminal property charge his wife was also cleared of, two counts of fraud by false representation, one count of theft, and two counts of fraud by abuse of position.
He still stands accused of 10 counts of theft, three counts of fraud by false representation, and one count of fraud by abuse of position.
The charges relate to appeals and charities Wright is alleged to have set up to help children fighting cancer, including his son Bobby.
Other causes he is alleged to have stolen from and defrauded relate to Alex Ward, who was diagnosed with a tumour on the brain, Callum Kaye, Jessica Magnus, and Armani Mohammad.
Prosecutors allege Wright, of Quince, Amington, in Tamworth, raised hundreds of thousands for the charities but some of that money went into his bank account to fund his “interests, investments and personal lifestyle,” including a family trip to Disney World.