Kesgrave man found guilty of stealing Covid fundraiser
On Friday, defendant Richard Wiper told the jury that he never stole the proceeds of a GoFundMe he set up in 2020 to provide food for frontline NHS workers, a charitable endeavour known as ‘Meals for Medics’.
Wiper, 39, made a social media post about the endeavour, and Susannah Barlow, then the landlady of the Steamboat Tavern, volunteered use of her commercial kitchen.
Mrs Barlow and her husband Andrew Barlow say that they were left £1,275 out of pocket, having received only £144 from Wiper to cover their expenses.
Wiper told the jury on Friday that subsequent attempts to transfer the Barlows “bounced” and it was agreed that he would pay them in cash.
Statements show he was withdrawing cash during this period, although message transcripts between Wiper and Mrs Barlow made no reference to cash being given or received.
Juliet Donovan, prosecuting, said Wiper was withdrawing cash to cover his tracks, knowing he would later be accused of taking the money.
Wiper said he felt “bullied” and “bombarded” by messages from Mrs Barlow, given that he had at the time recently lost his grandmother.
He also said he was unhappy about items the Barlows were purchasing such as crips, cans and chocolate bars, when the agreement was to provide hot meals.
It was pointed out that Wiper had told Mrs Barlow that he had set up a separate account for the GoFundMe, and was not using his personal account, when in fact this was the case.
Wiper explained that GoFundMe required him to use an existing account when he set up the fundraiser, and he was unable to open a new Santander account due to complications arising from the pandemic.
Earlier in the trial, Michael Brown, a customer of the Steamboat who had donated food, have evidence.
Messages from a Grindr profile using his name and photograph were read out, describing Mrs Barlow as “lying to police” about Wiper taking the money.
Mr Brown said he never sent these messages, and denied knowing Wiper at all. Wiper told the jury that the messages were from Mr Brown who he said had asked him out on a date.
Ms Donovan alleged that Wiper was lying. He denied this.
Wiper, formerly of Main Road, Kesgrave, told the jury that – while he stressed that he did not take the money – he had offered multiple times to pay the Barlows the money they said was unpaid, but this offer was refused.
While Wiper has maintained his innocence throughout the process, the jury found him guilty on Friday afternoon.
He is expected to be sentenced on May 8.
