Oxford – Face of man jailed for stealing thousands from charity

Daniel Smith, of Hundred Acres Close, Holloway, was jailed for 30 months at a sentencing hearing at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday, May 6.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraud by false representation, one count of theft by employee and one count of working with vulnerable adults when he was on the barred list.

Mike Hollis, prosecuting, told the court Smith had been barred from working with children and vulnerable adults in 2020 after he used fake references to get a job at a children’s home.

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Daniel Smith (Image: TVP)

Despite this he applied for a job to work at the Oxford charity Aspire, which works with vulnerable adults facing housing problems, in 2022.

The court heard he completed a DBS check, but the charity wasn’t told he was on the barred list.

He’s also been banned from the road for 49 months, but claimed expenses to drive.

Mr Hollis told the court Smith was suspended in October 2022 and resigned shortly after.

Aspire deducted £900 from his wages, and in response Smith refused to return a work laptop and mobile phone, valued at £350.

The charity subsequently discovered that 11 of the 15 clients Smith was supposed to be helping were completely made-up.

The total value of the fraud was £17,730.

As well as being jailed for 30 months, Smith was ordered to pay a total of £18,080 in compensation.