Rotherham charity worker "manipulated" abuse survivor into giving her £16k of compensation cash, jury told
Please note: the defendant has now been cleared of the one charge of fraud she faced
A charity worker manipulated a sexual abuse survivor into handing over £16,000 of her compensation, a court heard.
Kathryn Kelwick was working as a vulnerable adults manager at the Swinton Lock Activity Centre, Rotherham, when the fraud is alleged to have taken place.
Kelwick, of Eilam Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham, was assigned as the survivor’s support worker.
She also helped the survivor, who is entitled to lifelong anonymity, to apply for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), Sheffield Crown Court heard.
Opening the trial against Kelwick today (July 20, 2026), prosecutor David Ward said she “used a variety of manipulations” to persuade the survivor to transfer her roughly half of the money - a sum of approximately £16,000 - when the compensation came through.
“The Crown say she crossed a line with [the survivor] to secure access to her money,” Mr Ward said.
Mr Ward said Kelwick, aged 55, was tasked with assisting the survivor with her care, not her finances, and is alleged to have formed an arrangement with the survivor to split the money.
“She abused her position of trust to ensure [the survivor] transferred that money to her bank account,” Mr Ward told the jury of eight women and four men.
He told jurors that the money was transferred in two sums of £11,000 and then £5,000.
Kelwick denies carrying out the fraud.
Mr Ward said that when Kelwick was initially interviewed by police she answered the questions put to her but denied the allegation.
In her second interview, Kelwick provided police with a prepared statement, in which she acknowledged receiving the £16,000.
She claimed she believed the pair had more of a friendly relationship than a professional one, and the money she received was a “gift.”
Kelbrick denies one count of fraud.
The trial, which is expected to conclude this week, continues.