ADRIANNE PELTZ'S SHAMEFUL FRAUD AT BANGOR-BASED DOGS TRUST REVEALED

Adrianne Susan Peltz, now known as Thompson, a woman born on October 22, 1984, and residing on Beatrice Road in Bangor, BT20 5DG, was found guilty of defrauding the Dogs Trust of nearly £5,500. This incident, which took place in Bangor, has cast a shadow over her reputation and career, highlighting a serious breach of trust involving a prominent charity dedicated to caring for abandoned dogs.

In a court hearing, Peltz pleaded guilty to charges of fraud by abuse of her position, admitting to misusing a Dogs Trust credit card for personal expenses. The total amount involved was £5,393.22. She had been employed as the campaigns manager for the Northern Ireland branch of the Dogs Trust, a role that granted her access to a charity credit card intended solely for official use in managing the organization’s daily operations.

However, after her employment was terminated, authorities and the charity requested her to produce receipts for the expenses charged to the credit card. Peltz failed to comply with these requests, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of her expenditures. An investigation revealed that between April and October 2017, numerous transactions totaling £5,392.22 could not be justified as legitimate business expenses. These unexplained charges indicated that the funds had been diverted for personal use rather than for the charity’s benefit.

During the court proceedings, her defense lawyer, Stephen Law, emphasized the importance of the money donated to charities and described the act of misuse as “particularly mean-spirited.” He acknowledged that Peltz was experiencing a difficult period in her life at the time of the offense. Mr. Law explained that she was under significant pressure at work, juggling her responsibilities as a mother and a carer for her own mother, which contributed to her poor judgment. He described her actions as a “classic fall from grace,” noting that she had previously held several important public roles, which have now been tarnished, and her reputation has been severely damaged.

Following her guilty plea, Peltz resigned from various community groups she was involved with. Her lawyer pointed out a glimmer of hope, mentioning that she had recently married, and her new husband was present in court. Currently unemployed, Peltz is not claiming any benefits and is living on her husband's support. The defense also highlighted her remorse, stating she felt ashamed of her actions and that she might need to move from her current residence due to social shunning.

While acknowledging the significance of every pound donated to charities, Mr. Law suggested that the loss of approximately £5,000 might not have a substantial impact on the nationwide operations of the Dogs Trust. He described her situation as a “life-changing experience” and expressed her intention to rebuild her life by securing employment and repaying the stolen funds.

District Judge Nigel Broderick described the offense as “mean-spirited,” emphasizing the breach of trust involved in defrauding a charity that relies on public generosity. The judge noted the impact on the Dogs Trust staff, who found the incident traumatic. He took into account Peltz’s guilty plea, her loss of employment, and the public shame associated with her actions. Ultimately, he sentenced her to six months in jail, suspended for two years, and ordered her to repay the stolen amount.

Outside the court, Peltz declined to comment, passing reporters with a simple “no comment, thank you.”

Following the sentencing, a spokesperson for the Dogs Trust expressed their disappointment but also their relief that more of the stolen funds would now be recovered. They reaffirmed their commitment to responsible use of donations and thanked the police for their swift action. The charity emphasized that this was an unusual case for them and that they would continue their vital work of caring for over 15,000 dogs annually, ensuring that the recovered funds would be reinvested into their ongoing efforts to help vulnerable animals.