Rotherham charity worker cleared of fraud after jury told £16k sent by survivor was "unconditional gift"
Jurors found fraud had not been proven
A Rotherham charity worker has been acquitted of fraud, after it was argued that the £16,000 she received from an abuse survivor was given to her as an “unconditional gift.”
55-year-old Kathryn Kelwick had been accused of defrauding an abuse survivor out of the money by abusing her position as a vulnerable adults manager at the Swinton Lock Activity Centre.
Ms Kelwick denied a single charge of fraud, and went on trial at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, July 20, 2026.
Jurors found Ms Kelwick not guilty of the offence a few moments ago.
The court was previously told Ms Kelwick assisted the complainant, a Rotherham abuse survivor, in successfully submitting a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
After the compensation settlement, totalling tens of thousands of pounds, came through, the survivor sent two sums of £11,000 and £5,000 to Ms Kelwick by bank transfer.
The defence case was that the monies received by Ms Kelwick , of Eilam Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham, were given to her as “unconditional gifts,” the court heard.
Advising the jury, Judge Rachael Harrison said if they find that assertion “to be correct” they should find her not guilty of fraud.
She added: “The issue in this case is dishonesty.”
Earlier in the trial, Dermot Hughes, defending, suggested to the survivor - who cannot be named for legal reasons - that she made the allegation against Ms Kelwick after the pair “fell out.”
Prosecutors, however, argued the survivor had been “coerced” into providing Ms Kelwick with a “50/50” split.
The jury found fraud had not been proven in Ms Kelwick’s case.
After telling Ms Kelwick she was free to leave the dock, Judge Harrison thanked the jury for their public service.
She said: “We have the best system in the world in this country, and that works because of you.”