A THIEF who stole cash raised from a community fun day she organised for a military charity has been described as "disgusting" by the people she duped.

Barmaid Ashia Reed was only too happy to help Lynn Jamieson when she suggested the fundraising event in the Garden Farm pub in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

She sold tickets and promoted the event in aid of Help for Heroes, along with pub regular Alisdair Sanderson, whose father, a former servicemen, donated a motorbike to be raffled.

Ms Reed, 34, of Chester-le-Street, said: “It was after the death of Lee Rigby and she suggested a night to raise money for Help for Heroes. A lot of our customers have been in the forces at one point or have family serving.”

The event, in summer 2013, included a family fun day, raffle and tombola prizes donated by local business and entertainment, and was a great success.

Suspicions over whether the money raised had reached the charity arose and regulars sussed that Jamieson, 51, had kept the cash and challenged her but she spent months evading their questions.

Police were informed, and when she was quizzed Jamieson claimed a 16-year-old girl had stolen it from the wardrobe she had hidden it in while she was on holiday.

Ms Reed said: “It is disgusting. That money could have helped people but she put it in her back pocket.”

Mr Sanderson’s father, Chris McLane, who served with Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers with the British Army, and an American bomb disposal unit in Afghanistan, donated a £1,600 Honda VFR400 for the event in 2013.

Mr Sanderson, 23, of Wynyard, Chester-le-Street, said: “We wanted to be involved to help people who had served with and we knew what a good cause it is. What she has done is inexcusable. It is pure greed. She has no regard for anyone other than herself. She has set out deceive everyone for personal profit.”

Earlier this week Jamieson, of Dunston, Gateshead, who was convicted of stealing £840 following a trial, was given a 16 week prison sentence, suspended for a year.

She will also be electronically tagged for 28 days and have to observe a curfew between 8pm and 6am.

District Judge Martin Walker said her previous good character and the fact she cares for her grandchildren stopped him imposing an immediate custodial sentence.

But Ms Reed and Mr Sanderson both believe she deserves to be behind bars.

Ms Reed said: “It is a joke. She has got off far too lightly with it.”

Consett Magistrates’ Court heard she has repaid £300 and was ordered to pay a further £540 to the charity.

Jo Brookes, income protection officer at Help for Heroes, said: “Jamieson deceived the public into thinking they were making donations which would help our wounded.

“Instead she was cashing in on their goodwill and using the money for her own personal gain.

“Our anti-fraud measures aided the police investigation and we're delighted she's been brought to justice.”