Former RSPCA Trustee Accused of Fraudulent Use of Charity Funds

A former RSPCA trustee, David Mawson, is on trial for allegedly misusing over £100,000 of the animal charity’s funds to Support a lavish lifestyle, according to court reports. The accusations stem from a five-year period between 2012 and 2017, during which Mawson is said to have charged the charity for personal hotel stays and taxi rides.

Prosecutors allege that Mawson, 50, defrauded the charity out of approximately £91,300 by staying hundreds of nights in hotels, with an additional £10,000 spent on taxi fares. These expenses were allegedly billed to the RSPCA without any legitimate charity-related purpose. Mawson, who served as a trustee for the SELB (South East London Branch) of the RSPCA, managed accounts for three charity shops in West Norwood, Grove Park, and Sydenham.

According to the prosecution, Mawson had extensive control over the branch’s financial accounts and took advantage of his position to fund his own expenses. The court heard that Mawson charged over £18,000 to a Barclaycard, more than £43,000 to a Co-Op debit card, and £29,000 through a CAF Bank corporate account. His stays at various Premier Inn locations were highlighted, with a total of 436 nights accounted for during the period in question. Prosecutor Andrew Hallworth noted that this number is likely understated, as many bank transactions might represent more than one night per stay.

Additionally, the prosecution claimed that Mawson billed taxi rides through the service Addison Lee, accumulating over £10,000 in charges. His use of the funds raised suspicions among other trustees, eventually leading to an investigation. Gerda Glage, SELB Chair, and her husband alerted the authorities, prompting a forensic audit of the accounts. Mawson was removed from his position in 2018 and later questioned by police.

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