Claire Alderton

An investigation was launched into Claire Alderton, 48, of Shadwell Road in Portsmouth, after police received a referral from Report Fraud.

It had been reported that Alderton was offered a position at George’s Rockstars in early 2024 as the Trusts & Foundations Fundraiser and was asked to provide two references from previous employers.

After providing references, Alderton was employed by the charity in June 2024, and during her employment told the charity that she had successfully submitted applications for grants, as per her role.

In December 2024, Alderton told her employer that she had been diagnosed with cancer and stopped attending work, she then stopped responding to any contact from the charity.

The charity contacted the foundation that Alderton said she had secured a grant from, only to find out that no application had ever been made.

They then made contact with Alderton’s referees through LinkedIn, who informed them that they did not write the references she had provided, and that the emails which were allegedly from them were fake.

Alderton was arrested, charged and admitted to committing fraud by false representation, in dishonestly providing two false references to gain employment at a charity, intending to make a financial gain for herself.

It was also ascertained in court that Alderton has not been diagnosed with cancer and that this had been a lie.

She appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 19 June, where she was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Amy O’Shaughnessy, who co-founded the charity after losing her son George to Leukaemia in 2019, said, “To target charities, secure employment through deception, and fabricate a cancer diagnosis to the mother and founder of an organisation established in memory of a child who bravely fought that very disease is truly abhorrent. Furthermore, to falsify funding applications meant to support seriously ill children in hospitals is a profound betrayal of public trust.

“George’s Rockstars was created to preserve my son’s legacy and provide music therapy to families navigating their darkest hours in hospitals. While our services face immense demand, I have had to work tirelessly simply to prevent his legacy from going under due to this her fraudulent actions.

“We have fought incredibly hard to ensure that, despite the gravity of this deception, our support for children and families remains uninterrupted.

“Personally, uncovering the sheer depth of these lies has been emotionally devastating. A custodial sentence is the absolute least she deserves for exploiting the charity sector and the vulnerabilities of a grieving family.

“We are deeply grateful to the police and the justice system for their rigorous work in ensuring accountability and securing this conviction.”

PC Emma Thomas from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Central Fraud Unit said, “I am pleased with this result and to see Alderton put behind bars for her actions.

“To knowingly and purposefully target the charity sector for personal gain is an appalling crime and one for which Alderton deserved to face justice for.

“Her actions have caused both financial and emotional suffering, and I hope that prison gives her time to reflect on the consequences of her choices