Trustee of animal rescue charity jailed for major fraud

Kathleen Bailey, who founded the charity in 1995, said Proctor’s actions “could have cost us our charity”.

They had discussed selling a shop to avoid financial issues, the court heard.

Despite the conviction, Ms Bailey remained worried about the future of the charity because of the impact on its reputation.

Proctor’s defence barrister said he had “in effect lost everything”.

“His life is comprehensively ruined and he is the author of his own misfortune,” the judge responded.

Sentencing Proctor to a prison term, Recorder Richardson said: “This was an animal charity doing extremely good work in the Barnsley area. The general public will be rightly outraged by your conduct.”

A Proceeds of Crime Act order to recoup some of the money was also made.

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