A CROOKED mum stole up to ￡10,000 from charity to fund her "WAG lifestyle" after claiming her son's dad was a football star.

       Olivia Spencer, 29, pocketed donations from well-wishers while working as a clerk for the Manchester Foundation Charity.

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       Olivia Spencer stole money to fund a lavish lifestyle Credit: Cavendish 5

       She shared pictures from a trip to America Credit: Cavendish

       The handouts were meant to help patients at children's hospitals - including a mum who raised ￡400 when her daughter suffered a brain tumour.

       Instead, Spencer used the cash to live a lifestyle ''disproportionate'' to her means while claiming her son's dad was an unnamed footballer.

       Social media pictures showed Spencer enjoying fancy cocktails and a lavish holiday to America.

       Her scheming was only exposed when donors complained they had not received their usual "thank you" notes when dropping off the cash.

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       Spencer admitted theft by employee but avoided prison and was instead handed a six month suspended sentence.

       Manchester Crown Court heard the mum-of-two began her callous plan in October 2018 while fielding money intended for ten hospitals across Greater Manchester.

       She and a colleague were meant to sign a receipt book for each donation made then place the cash in a safe.

       Prosecutor Miss Denise Fitzpatrick said: "Olivia Spencer received workplace training but after she began her employment, discrepancies in cash donations became apparent and an investigation was undertaken.

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       "The discrepancies came to light because donors contacted the charity to ask why they had not received a note of thanks for their respective donations and an acknowledgement of receipt. The receipt book was then checked.''

       A probe showed Spencer had fielded cash from donors on 21 different occasions but the charity had no record of the money being received.

       Victims included the mum who donated ￡400 when her sick daughter was treated at at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (RCMH).

       A local children's nursery had also raised money with a cake sale, while a primary school that donated ￡400 got a letter back saying the charity only received ￡195.

       Spencer had also refused to let college students who gave ￡274 pose for a photo when the cheque was handed in.

       Miss Fitzpatrick said: ''Olivia Spencer was placed on restricted duties but she then phoned in and said she was ill due to work-related stress.

       "During the investigation it emerged that whilst working at the charity her description of her lifestyle appeared disproportionate to the income she received.

       "She told one of her colleagues that a footballer was the father of her son although she never gave the footballer's name.''

       The court heard investigators could only account for ￡1,236.30 from nine of the 21 suspicious transactions.

       Although the total amount of the remaining donations are not known, it is believed the missing money totals more than ￡10,000.

       As well as a suspended sentence, Spencer was ordered to carry out six days of rehabilitation activity and 180 hours of unpaid work.

       Sentencing, Mr Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said a jail term would cause her two children to "suffer".

       Tanya Hamid, director of Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, said: “We took immediate action as soon as we realised that cash was missing.

       "The investigations led to the employee’s dismissal and the sentence passed today. This sends a strong message that theft or fraud against NHS charities is totally unacceptable.

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       “We’d like to thank everyone who has continued to support the charity, enabling us to fund excellence in treatment, research and care across our family of hospitals.

       "As swift action was taken, we can assure our supporters that this individual has not impacted on our ability to fund life-changing and life-saving projects."

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       The charity worker claimed her son's dad was a footballer Credit: Cavendish 5

       She stole cash that was meant for hospitals across Manchester Credit: Cavendish 5

       The mum avoided a jail sentence Credit: Cavendish