Jason MacDonald created a GoFundMe after four young men died in a car crash (Pictures: SWNS/Wiltshire Police)
A man who helped set up a fake fundraising page after four young men were killed in a horror crash has been jailed.
Jason MacDonald, 38, claimed to be raising money for a non-existent memorial to the tragedy on the M4 near Chippenham, Wiltshire, in August 2020.
He and a friend ended up raising a today of £6,479.59.
They claimed to be commemorating Jordan Rawlings, 20, Corey Owen, 19, Matthew Parke, 19, and Ryan Nelson, 20, who all died after drink driver Jordan smashed their car while it was going at 120mph.
MacDonald and Kyle Saunders, 18, quickly set up a GoFundMe page, asking the public to donate for a permanent memorial.
But in fact they were trying to ‘capitalise on the deaths of four young men’, a court heard.
MacDonald was jailed for 26 months after he was convicted in October (Picture: Wiltshire Police)
Jordan Rawlings, 20, was drink driving on the day of the car crash (Picture: SWNS)
Corey Owen, 19, was killed in the car collision (Picture: SWNS)
MacDonald was found guilty of possessing criminal property relating to that fraud and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
He had previously admitted fraud by false representation and was ordered to pay £2,000 in compensation to GoFundMe.
Swindon Magistrates Court jailed him for 26 months at the end of October.
Detective constable Kevin Golledge said: ‘We hope this result sends a strong message to others that we take such incidents seriously and we won’t hesitate to take action.
‘This was a despicable crime that saw someone try to capitalise on the deaths of four young men.’
Police sergeant Rich Marshall added: ‘This is a crime that has impacted the four children’s family and the people who paid into the donation account.
Matthew Parke was just 19 years old when he died (Picture: SWNS)
Ryan Nelson, 20, was also a passenger in the car (Picture: SWNS)
‘We hope the sentencing will show that justice has been done and I hope this brings some closure for the families of the four young men.’
Saunders was given a 12-month community order when he was sentenced by the same court in January this year.
The order includes 12 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work.
A genuine fundraising page raised more than £9,286. The money was put towards a garden of reflection which was built at Castlefield Park in Calne.
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The fraudster pretended to be raising money for a memorial for the four young men who were killed.
