A CALLOUS charity boss who stole more than £85,000 from the cancer foundation set up in memory of her best friend’s daughter has been jailed for three years.
Lindsay MacCallum, 61, defrauded Rainbow Valley – set up with pal Angela MacVicar, 64 – and also nicked £9,000 from the Anthony Nolan Trust.
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The mum of two appeared at Falkirk sheriff court today and made a desperate bid to stay out of jail by repaying £25,000 of the ill gotten gains, and pledging to cough up the rest.
But MacCallum, – who claims to be on a ‘path of redemption’ – could not explain why she needed the cash since she wasn’t in debt.
Sheriff Mariam Labaki said: “The purpose of the Rainbow Valley charity was to support the families of those suffering from cancer.
“You betrayed those who are suffering, the terminally ill and their families.
“You have brought devastation to those who trusted you.
“This is a grave offence and a significant breach of trust.
“I sincerely hope you pay the money back in full.”
Angela stumbled upon her former best pal’s decade of deceit after discovering discrepancies in an account set up for a fundraising ball.
Rainbow Valley was set up in honour of her daughter Johanna, who died from leukaemia aged 27 in 2005.
Outside court, an emotional Angela said: “The ripple effect of hurt caused by Lindsay MacCallum runs deep.
“There was an apology to her family but no apology to my family and my daughter’s name. I feel she’s just sorry she was caught.
“I was bereft when I found out what she’d done, she was my best friend and I trusted her implicitly.
“I’ll never get over it or understand why.”
MacCallum, wearing no make up and in a plain maroon top, hung her head as she watched proceedings via video link from Polmont prison.
HOW CROOK SPENT CASH
- Siphoned into own bank accounts – £50,037
- Spent on MBNA credit card – £21,056
- Put into account shared with hubby – £5,054
- Used on Next Directory buys – £4,210
- Transferred into her kids’ account – £1,670
- Other unauthorised expenses – £3,951
She was nailed after confessing to Rainbow Valley co-founder Angela MacVicar in August 2022 that she’d stolen donations.
She pled guilty to that fraud and a further £9,505 from the Anthony Nolan Trust at Falkirk sheriff court in August.
We revealed that she has floated between Marbella, Majorca and a chalet in Scotland while proclaiming her innocence since her arrest in 2022 – and also spent a fortune jetting off to Cyprus for her son’s wedding last July.
She also would blow thousands on a professional decorator every Christmas to festoon her plush £300,000 home with expensive baubles.
MacCallum was in Cyprus last July at the lavish wedding of her son where she was pictured with her two sisters and daughter.
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She has also jetted between Scotland and family-owned apartments in Marbella, which has its own pool, and Santa Ponsa, Majorca living the high life.
The family also own a chalet at a holiday park in Findhorn, Moray. MacCallum faces a Proceeds of Crime hearing next month.
