Animal Charity Trustee Imprisoned for £100,000 Fraud

A former RSPCA national trustee has been jailed after defrauding the animal charity of more than £100,000. David Mawson, 50, from Twickenham, abused his position to fund hundreds of hotel stays and private taxi rides using the charity's bank accounts. Convicted of fraud by abuse of position between January 1, 2012, and December 21, 2017, Mawson was sentenced to four years and two months in prison at Inner London Crown Court.

Judge Matthew Boyle, delivering the sentence, remarked: "There was no necessity for you to stay in hotels to fulfill your duties as a trustee. The jury found you acted dishonestly, misusing over £100,000 of RSPCA funds for personal gain without authorisation from national or local leadership." The judge further criticised Mawson's attitude, stating: "You equated your personal interests with those of the RSPCA and displayed resentment toward the charity's paid employees. Your sense of entitlement led you to treat hotels and taxis as rewards for your voluntary work."

Mawson embezzled £91,300 from the RSPCA London South East Branch (SELB), spending over £18,000 on a Barclaycard, more than £43,000 on a Co-Op debit card, and £29,000 on a CAF Bank corporate account. This included 436 nights at Premier Inn hotels and over £10,000 on Addison Lee taxi rides.

Mawson joined the RSPCA as a teenager and became secretary of SELB in 2009. The branch operates three charity shops in West Norwood, Grove Park, and Sydenham. Despite his long association with the charity, Mawson used its funds to support his lifestyle, with no regard for the organisation's mission or proper oversight.

Whitestone Solicitors