Man sentenced to 12 months for fete fraud at Truro Crown Court

A 41-year-old man has today (6 December 2013), been given a 12 month prison sentence at Truro Crown Court for committing fraud against a popular Cornish fete.

Kingsley Bennett, who pleaded guilty last month to a charge of fraud by abuse of position, was treasurer of the Poughill Revel and Cuckoo Fair near Bude between 2008 and 2010.

During this time, the court heard that he abused his position to dishonestly gain more than £7,000.

He also told others that he was a Judge and Queen’s Counsel.

Following sentencing, DC Gary Page commented: “When interviewed by Police, Bennett tried to implicate another organiser of the Fair who had recently died, saying that they had dishonestly withdrawn some of the missing money.

“Expert forensic examination of documents supplied by Bennett to support this claim showed these to be fabricated.

“The Poughill Revel and Cuckoo Fair is an annual fete held every August, raising money which is then donated to local worthy causes in and around the Bude area.

“The Fair has been running since the 1920s, stopping only for the Second World War and the foot and mouth crisis in 2001.

“This was a blatant abuse of position and we are pleased with the outcome of this case.”