A Dundee murder victim’s son fraudulently fundraised for a phony charity, a court heard today.
Jamie McMurchie tricked a series of people to hand over cash for Tayside Cancer Research.
McMurchie whose father, John, was stabbed to death in Dundee in August 2012 in a killing that remains unsolved carried a fake ID badge and gave out details about the charity that made it out to be real.
But the truth was he had invented the organisation and was simply pocketing the cash he raised.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard McMurchie “formed a fraudulent scheme” between May 1 and May 15 2013 at the Steeple Church in Dundee’s Nethergate and at the city’s Keiller Centre shopping precinct.
He managed to get Andrew Robertson, Laura Milton, Jayne Ferris, Joanna Helfer and Elizabeth Thomson to hand over cash.
Fiscal depute Isma Mukhtar said McMurchie told people he was raising cash for Tayside Cancer Research which he said was a genuine charity and that any money raised would go to it.
She said: “On May 18 2013 he was seen in the Wellgate shopping centre approaching two males and asking them for sponsorship.
That raised suspicion and police approached him and the accused advised he was collecting for Tayside Cancer Research.
“The officers were not familiar with that charity and one of the officers searched the internet for it using his phone, but no details came up.
“The accused stated it was a real charity and the donations were being given to people related to it, but he could not give contact details for them. He was interviewed later and said he had raised roughly 120 and maintained his position that the charity was real.”
McMurchie, 21, of Lawton Terrace, pleaded guilty to forming a fraudulent scheme and obtaining money by fraud.
Defence solicitor John Boyle said: “He has numerous difficulties and there are tragic circumstances in his past.”
Sheriff Tom Hughes deferred sentence until September for McMurchie to be of good behaviour.
He said: “There are various troubling factors in your case.
“This type of offence would normally automatically carry a jail sentence as it is a breach of confidence for the public. You have been involved in a very serious matter.”
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