Gurdashan "Dashey'' Grewal, 54, has been found guilty of defrauding Caterham-based charity The Breck Foundation out of almost £6,000. She worked as their office manager for 18 months, between 2017 and 2019.
The fraud was discovered by her successor and immediately reported to both the police and charity regulators. Guildford Magistrates Court heard that Grewal, from Westerham, Kent, wrote a series of cheques to her personal bank account during her final week of employment. When police searched her home, they found designer handbags, shoes, jewellery, paperwork for an overseas holiday and unpaid utility bills. Grewal admitted false accounting and five counts of theft from her employer, totalling £5,682. She was given a 12-month community and rehabilitation order, requiring her to do 150 hours of unpaid work, complete 16 days of rehabilitation activities, and repay the stolen amount in full.
The Foundation described the theft as 'sickening'. Chairman of trustees, Liz Mason, said, "Dashey stealing money from the charity took away chances we could have had to prevent a child from suffering a death in the same way as Breck, and for that we can never forgive her."
Following her departure from The Breck Foundation, Grewal set up Splattercraft in Oxted High Street. She later vacated the premises but Splattercraft continues to trade online.
The Breck Foundation was named after Breck Bednar, 14, who was groomed and murdered in 2014 by a stranger he met online. Set up by his family, the charity campaigns for better internet safety and offers advice to children, parents and educators on the dangers of online grooming.
