A fraudster who pretended to be dying from cancer to steal from a charity for sick and needy children has walked free from court. Former PR guru Simon Mitchell, 44, claimed he wanted to raise £100,000 for youngsters through a series of celebrity-filled charity events for his 'bucket list.' Instead, he stole the cash from appearances by Top Gear's Richard Hammond, The Stig and reality TV star and former glamour model Katie Price - leaving the charity out of pocket. Following a three-year investigation he was finally sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Friday to a 16-week jail term, suspended for 18 months.Simon Mitchell claimed he wanted to help charity through celebrity-filled charity events for his 'bucket list'He told Donna's Dream House - for sick and needy children - that he was dying of lung cancerHe organised celebrity appearances but kept the donations leaving the charity out of pocketThe 44-year-old was sentenced to four months in jail suspended for 18 months
'Your medical records have just been disclosed to this court, and the reality of what you initially said to _'s Dream House, namely that you were terminally ill and were anxious to do what you could to assist critically ill people in the last days of your life, which was hugely noble.