Addict lied to get drugs cash

Tina Cannon, of North Street, Smethwick, went door to door asking for money for the Ellie May Appeal. The 24-year-old appeared before Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

She was given an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for two years with a 12-month supervision order.

Judge Nicholas Webb said she had committed a crime that the public "absolutely detest".

Cannon pleaded guilty to six counts of attempting to obtain property by deception.

Mr Bernard Linnemann, prosecuting, told the court in August Cannon visited several houses and asked for sponsorship for a parachute jump she claimed to be doing in aid of the Ellie May Appeal.

The court heard that Cannon collected £400 from householders before she was caught and admitted to police that she was raising funds to feed her drug addiction.

Mr Linnemann told the court: "The charity not only lost out on the donations she obtained but also on its reputation."

Judge Webb told Cannon her offending was persistent and dishonest.

He added: "The amounts you were given were quite small but these type of offenses are most unattractive because it involves the taking in of people who are prepared to give and help others. You duped them and lied to them."

The Ellie May Appeal is a charity set up to help a brave girl from London who contracted meningitis and lost her arms and legs.

The cause is dear to people in Sandwell as earlier this year six-year-old Ellie Bishop, who lives in Rowley Regis, also lost limbs to the disease.

The Ellie Bishop Trust Fund was set up in her name.

By Daniel Pountney