Charity Man Blew Kid's Cash And Nicked Computer Equipment

An IT boss with a Third World children’s charity, who blew their cash on alcohol and expensive cigars at a luxury New Delhi hotel, has been told to repay the money or go to prison.

Christopher Wiseman, 40, was employed by Mayfair’s Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, where he also pinched a laptop and three mobile phones.

He joined the charity - founded by billionaire Sir Christopher Hohn - immediately after leaving Battersea currency exchange specialists Halo Financial, where he stole an iPad Air, MacBook Air and other equipment.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Wiseman, of 22 Woodlea Drive, Bromley used the charity’s credit card on drink and cigars while staying on an all-expenses work trip at the 4-star Sheraton New Delhi.

He pleaded guilty to stealing from the charity, plus stealing a back-up drive, data saver and usb stick from Halo and Judge Stephen John found he was also responsible for taking the iPad and MacBook after a short Newton hearing to determine the extent of his offending.

“He has tried to duck and dive to avoid or minimise his responsibility. He is a devious and manipulative man,” said the judge.

“Immediately after leaving Halo in no time at all he was dishonest in relation to the charity, taking equipment and making extravagant and unauthorised expenses.”

The judge deferred sentencing Wiseman until April 20 next year for him to pay £9,169 compensation to both bodies.

“I can do one of two things,” Judge John told him. “Sentence you today to twenty-one months imprisonment as you have chosen to brazen the matter out in front of me.

“Alternatively I can defer sentence on you for four months on the basis it gives you more than ample time to secure compensation to both the institutions you stole from.

“If you make payment in full you will come back before me and I will suspend the term of imprisonment.

“If you fail to pay in full I will be sending you to prison with immediate effect.

‘Let me down and the last I will see of you is your back as you go down the steps to custody.”

After leaving the charity Wiseman went on to be an £89,000 a year IT director with train company Govia Thameslink until taking £13,000 redundancy last October.

“There is a breach of a high degree of trust in both cases,” prosecutor Miranda Jollie told the court.