The Kidz Come First organisation, founded in 2011 to assist disabled and terminally ill children, had hundreds of thousands of pounds drained from its accounts over several years. Following an investigation begun in 2017, detectives discovered that funds were moved directly into personal accounts and spent on gambling websites rather than respite holidays for caregivers. Khan received a sentence of five years and 11 months after admitting fraud, while co-leader Donovan received three years after his conviction. Police are now working to secure confiscation orders to recover what remains of the stolen money.
Key points
Leaders of Kidz Come First embezzled £315,000 meant to provide equipment, healthcare, and…: Leaders of Kidz Come First embezzled £315,000 meant to provide equipment, healthcare, and respite holidays for sick children.
Diverted charity donations were traced through bank statements to personal household expe…: Diverted charity donations were traced through bank statements to personal household expenses and various online gambling websites.
Law enforcement detectives are pursuing formal confiscation orders in an attempt to recov…: Law enforcement detectives are pursuing formal confiscation orders in an attempt to recover the stolen charitable funds.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Two leaders of an Essex charity set up to support disabled and terminally ill children have been jailed after stealing £315,000 in donations intended for vulnerable families. Ruksana Khan, 68, and James Donovan, 58, diverted money from Kidz Come First to fund online gambling and pay household bills, according to Essex Police. Khan, who founded the charity in 2011, admitted fraud in 2021, while Donovan denied three fraud charges before being convicted in January 2024. Khan was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison, while Donovan received a three-year sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court on 13 June 2024.
How did Kidz Come First charity leaders divert £315,000 in donations
As reported by the BBC, an investigation into the charity's finances revealed that thousands of pounds had been transferred from its bank account into Khan's personal account. Bank statements examined by investigators showed that some of the money was subsequently spent on online gambling websites. The funds were supposed to support children with disabilities and terminal illnesses rather than cover the personal expenses of those running the organisation.
The fatal failure of the structure in Chawri Bazaar resulted in the loss of two lives following neglected safety concerns. An official warning delivered half a year earlier failed to prompt corrective action from the property holder. This fatal outcome highlights the severe consequences of disregarded municipal alerts regarding unstable properties.
The 41-year-old forward confirmed the conclusion of his 23-year national team career in a social media video following a dispute with manager Jorge Jesus. His departure came after he walked out of a training camp upon learning he would be benched for consecutive matches. Despite an invitation from the coaching staff to return, the veteran opted to relinquish the No. 7 shirt permanently.
Senior judges intervened after the Attorney General challenged the original life sentence as unduly lenient for the fatal Southampton stabbing of an 18-year-old student. The revised ruling accounts for the deliberate cruelty displayed by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely accused the dying victim of racial abuse to have him handcuffed. The decision forces the perpetrator to spend significantly longer behind bars before being considered for parole.