A charity boss has been sentenced to three years in jail for stealing over £85,000 from a Scottish cancer foundation. Lindsay MacCallum, 61, defrauded Rainbow Valley, a charity that supports cancer patients and their families, of £85,978. She also embezzled £9,505 from the Anthony Nolan Trust. Despite not facing financial difficulties, MacCallum forged signatures and diverted funds from charity accounts for her own use between 2011 and 2021. She was accused of committing calculated frauds that betrayed cancer victims.
MacCallum, who appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court via video link, was criticised by Sheriff Maryam Labaki for betraying the trust of those suffering from cancer and their families. She diverted significant amounts of money into her personal bank accounts and family members’ accounts. MacCallum, a former Royal Navy servicewoman and fundraising manager for the Anthony Nolan Trust, co-founded Rainbow Valley with her best friend Angela MacVicar in honor of Angela’s daughter, Johanna, who passed away from leukaemia in 2005 at the age of 27.
After a fallout in 2022, Angela discovered discrepancies in a fundraising account, leading to the revelation of MacCallum’s decade-long deceit. MacCallum expressed remorse for her actions, acknowledging her wrongdoing and the betrayal of trust. She has already repaid £25,000 and intends to repay the remaining amount. MacCallum will face a court hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the Crown seeking to confiscate her illicit gains. Angela MacVicar voiced her devastation over MacCallum’s betrayal, emphasizing the impact on her family and her daughter Johanna’s memory.
The sentencing of MacCallum serves as a warning that such crimes will not be tolerated, with the ripple effects of her actions being deeply felt. MacVicar urged people to remember that MacCallum’s actions were that of one individual who breached trust. The emotional toll of MacCallum’s actions on the victims and their families was evident in MacVicar’s statement outside the court. MacCallum’s sentencing highlights the importance of upholding trust and integrity, especially within charitable organisations dedicated to supporting those in need.