IT was thousands of pounds that should have been donated to help make the lives of sick children better, the Daily Echo reports.

Instead Karolin Jones pocketed up to £5,000 that was raised at events she organised in the name of Southampton Hospital Charity.

She was described as having “gotten off lightly” after being ordered to pay back a fraction of the money she stole.

Jones was told to repay £300 of the sum in compensation to the charity and was also spared jail when sentenced for fraud and theft at Southampton Crown Court.

As previously reported the 29-year-old staged two family fun days at Lloyd Recreation Ground in Marchwood and the Vine pub in Ower claiming it was to help sick youngsters, one of which had a fundraising target of £50,000 alone.

During a week-long trial, the court heard the mum-of-three was inspired to organise a fundraiser after one of her children were taken ill and was cared for by the hospital.

Instead of donating the money raised by hundreds of residents at the event the 29-year-old decided to pocket the cash herself, the jury were told.

It was never revealed exactly how much money Jones collected.

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During her trial she claimed she had given all the cash raised to the charity but admitted not keeping proper records of the transactions. However, the jury found her guilty.