Man accused of stealing from dying nephews’ funds

A MAN accused of stealing thousands of pounds raised for his young terminally-ill nephews appeared in court yesterday.

It is alleged Anthony Smith took around £8,000 (€12,000) collected for brothers Callum, Connor and Jack Smith during a burglary at his father’s home on October 25 last year.

The 27-year-old, of Marriot Road, Leicester, is also accused of possessing the proceeds of crime on November 6.

Smith made no indication of plea during his brief appearance at Leicester Magistrates’ Court and the case was committed to the city’s crown court for a hearing on March 30.

Prosecuting, Miranda Wike said: “This is a matter the Crown says is too serious for the sentencing powers of a magistrates’ court.

“The defendant has allegedly stolen property, cash, from his father’s address and his father’s bedroom.

“The money had been kept for children who were terminally ill and it was raised by charitable donations.”

Smith was granted bail on conditions of residence that he does not communicate with prosecution witnesses and that he does not go within 500 metres of a property in Leicester.

Donations flooded in for his three nephews, aged between five and 10, after they were diagnosed with the same incurable brain disease, ALD.

ALD, or adrenoleukodysrophy, is a disease that affects mainly males. It has become known as the Lorenzo’s Oil disease after an Oscar-nominated 1993 film about a man who tried to find a cure.