RSPCA Trustee Accused Of £100K-Plus Expenses Scam

An RSPCA trustee, accused of a seven-year £100,00-plus expenses fraud on the animal charity, appeared in court for the first time yesterday.

David Mawson, 47, is accused of creating a business account while a trustee of the London South East RSPCA and defrauding the charity in relation to Premier Inn rooms and taxi fares. 

Croydon Magistrates Court heard Mawson booked a total of 328 days at Premier Inn during a four-year period, claiming expenses of approximately £91,000, plus approximately £15,000 in Addison Lee taxi fares.

Mawson, of Staines Road, Twickenham was bailed unconditionally to appear at Inner London Crown Court on May 11 and did not indicate a plea.

He is charged with fraud by abuse of position between January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2018 while occupying the position of trustee he dishonestly abused that position, intending to make financial gain.

Prosecutor Mili Matin told the court Mawson was reported to the police by a fellow-trustee in 2018.