A TEENAGER has admitted fraudulently selling raffle tickets in the name of a charity set up after a girl died of epilepsy.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to conning people into believing they were supporting the Abbie’s Love charity.

It was set up by Richard and Tracy Clarke, of Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, to raise money and awareness about the condition that killed their ten-year-old daughter, Abbie, in 2006.

The teenager was charged with six counts of fraud by false representation after being arrested in Middlesbrough in November last year.

Teesside Youth Court heard that the teenager did not make any money out of his actions and was being encouraged to carry out the fraud by another person.

The six charges all relate to the teenager selling the bogus tickets in the Acklam area of Middlesbrough.

Amy Dixon, in mitigation, said: “It’s a relatively unusual offence because there doesn’t seem to be any financial motive for the offence. He knew the person who instigated the offences, who provided him with a book of raffle tickets and took the money. He did not make any financial gain.”

The teenager also pleaded guilty to one charge of theft for stealing £2.50 worth of lager from the Spar store, in the town, on Boxing Day last year.

Magistrates adjourned the case for three weeks to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. The teenager was released on unconditional bail until February 20.

In 2010, Abbie’s Love featured in an episode of Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire programme The Clarkes had already raised £60,000 to help improve epilepsy care for children, but received a boost when multimillionaire Sean Gallagher travelled to Middlesbrough to donate £75,000 to the cause. He chose the charity because his only sibling died as a result of an epileptic fit 25 years ago.

Mr and Mrs Clarke handed over a £40,000 machine that helps diagnose the condition to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, in August last year.