A GRIEVING mum was betrayed by a charity fraudster posing as her friend who stole cash meant for a tribute to her dead son.

       Jenny Dees entrusted Kayleigh Pepper with donations for a school memorial garden after Stanley, six, was -accidentally shot dead by his great-grandfather.

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       Mum Jenny Dees with her son Stanley, who was shot dead Credit: Facebook 4

       Kayleigh Pepper admitted the fraud at court this week Credit: MEN Media

       Pepper, whose own brother was knifed to death, allegedly used the cash to fund nights out, holidays, and new clothes - all while she consoled the grieving mum.

       Jenny said the crook's actions sickened her "to the pits of my stomach".

       Her son Stanley died after being shot with an illegal air rifle by Albert Grannon, 79, who has since been released from jail.

       Pepper, a fellow school mum, approached Jenny and befriended her just days after the boy died - and she helped raise money for the funeral.

       The 36-year-old went on to take ￡20,000 from a charity she set up in memory of her dead brother.

       It also -received cash for the garden tribute to little Stanley, a court heard.

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       She had previously spearheaded the No More Knives campaign after her brother Richard, 25, was stabbed to death in 2015.

       And jobless Pepper was experienced in raising cash through the Rich Foundation – named after her brother – to help local families.

       Speaking about the ordeal, Jenny told Sunday People: “It sickens me to the pit of my stomach.

       "That someone can befriend me and care for me, all the while knowing they are taking money donated in my son’s name, makes me feel ill.

       “She sat on my sofa and comforted me over Stanley’s loss while she was using the money to help fund a lifestyle she couldn’t afford.

       “I’ve been told she went on three holidays in 18 months and she was always on nights out, looking perfectly coiffured with new clothes.

       "I didn’t know Kayleigh very well, other than to say hello at school, but she seemed so kind and trustworthy.

       EVIL CON

       “I wanted to commemorate Stanley in a fun way which reflected his personality and Kayleigh seemed to genuinely want to help.

       “She said she just wanted to take the pressure off me.”

       Pepper then helped with the donations for the funeral and fun day, which were collected on GoFundMe.

       Then a year later, she offered to help Jenny fundraise for a memorial garden for Stanley at his school on the website again.

       All of the funds raised were meant to go straight to St Mary Queen of Martyrs primary school in Hull - but Jenny claims that Pepper asked the fundraiser to transfer ￡2,850 to the Rich Foundation.

       The cash was transferred, but it was never given to the school, it's alleged.

       In a message to Jenny’s friends, Pepper wrote: “I wanted to ask if you’d mind if the fundraising money you are donating can go through the Rich Foundation before it gets passed to the school.

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       The mum said Pepper had used Stanley's death for 'financial gain' Credit: MEN Media

       "This is purely for my -charity’s status in terms of any live campaigns I have.”

       Jenny said: “The school kept asking Kayleigh where the money was as they had already created the garden.

       "The staff told me they didn’t want to ask me for the cash because it was awkward and I was still grieving.

       “They later told me that Kayleigh claimed I’d used the money for IVF.

       “Thousands of pounds were raised for the garden. I don’t think I’ll ever -really know how much was taken in Stanley’s name.”

       At a separate ladies' night fundraiser, Jenny became suspicious when Pepper said only ￡86 had been raised - as her pals said they had donated more than that.

       The school complained to the police in early 2020 and a probe was launched, it's understood.

       'USED MY SON FOR HER GAIN'

       Jenny had to face Pepper on the school run every day until she moved to Tyneside last year.

       The grieving mum added: "She looked like a normal mum taking her kids to school but I knew the police were looking at her.

       "She had used my son for financial gain."

       Pepper -appeared at Hull Crown Court and admitted fraud by abusing her position as a trustee of the Rich Foundation between July 1, 2018 and April 2020.

       The prosecution claimed she stole around ￡23,000 but the defence argued it was around ￡20,000 - with the judge agreeing to deal with the case based on the lower amount.

       Pepper was warned that she could face jail when she's sentenced next month.

       Pictures online showed the mum's lavish life having a series of nights out, holidays to Benidorm and her clothing and hair "transformation".

       Jenny said: “I’ve been through a -million emotions over what Kayleigh did, through tears, anger and feeling idiotic that I didn’t see it.

       “Friends have told me that she went to Marbella and Benidorm in one year – trips that her mates talked about on Facebook in 2019.

       “How could she have afforded that as a single mum on benefits?

       “I always wondered how she managed, but it never crossed my mind that she would be using Stanley to do it.”

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       Jenny said she feels 'idiotic' that she didn't realise Pepper was using her dead son's memorial money for her own gain Credit: SWNS:South West News Service