'Off her face' woman posed as Salvation Army to feed drug habit
A MUM who posed as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army had no memory of attempting to collect money from neighbours because 'she was off her face'.
Alison Mills admitted going to the homes of neighbours in Morriston last October, including her own mother, and asking them to put donations in a charity box.
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She told them the money would be used for a local children's club that was at danger of closing.
Mills, of Morfydd Street, was refused money by many of people who knew she had been battling a drug problem, and she was arrested after police were called.
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The 41-year-old admitted a charge of fraud by false representation, when she appeared before city magistrates, because she had intended to keep the money she had collected.
Mitigating, Stephen Burnell told the court: "This was an unsophisticated matter.
"Initially in interview, she did not believe what was being said about her. She was, in her own words, off her face.
"In her second interview she was clearly very remorseful, and said she was disgusted with herself.
"She has been to her neighbours to apologise.
"She had gone along the street, but was not a legitimate Salvation Army person, and she was told to go away.
"She is deeply ashamed, and was mortified by what she was told."
A probation report read to the court told that Mills, who had been using heroin, was responding positively to agencies, and had been providing negative drug tests.
It added that social services did not have any major concerns surrounding the care of her son. Sentencing, chair of magistrates John Burge said: "You have pleaded guilty to fraud, but what makes it worse is you have attempted to deceive the good and charitable people of Morriston, who thought they were donating to the Salvation Army.
"We are informed you are ashamed of your actions, and rightly so."
She was given a 12 month community order, with supervision and a low level drug rehabilitation order, and told to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
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