•  Essex Police appeal for information of suspects asking for donations
  •  Clacton’s Local Policing Team has received reports of four people knocking on doors and approaching businesses
  • Officers also believe a number of companies have donated prizes for raffles or competitions that may not be legitimate

WOMEN have been caught on camera allegedly pretending to fundraise on behalf of a disabled youngster.

Since April, mum Aline Garner, of Kirby Cross, has been sent messages about sightings of two women who say they are fundraising for six-year-old son Riley.

Riley has severe cerebral palsy and needs costly physiotherapy at nearly £1,000 every three months at a centre in Basingstoke.

He is also still recovering from selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery last March to improve spasticity in his legs.

Two women, believed to be from Clacton, have been cold-calling residents across Essex collecting money and selling raffle tickets for Riley’s Superstar Fund.

But the money has not been handed over to the appeal.

Perry Cray, of Clacton, filmed them collecting in Legerton Drive in the town.

Aline said: “A friend of mine had sent me a message to say they were still collecting although there were photos of them already online.

“Perry had seen the posts so when he saw the women door-knocking on his road, he confronted them.

“Within minutes of filming it, he put the video on Facebook and sent it to me to confirm. He’s officially Riley’s hero.

Halstead Gazette:

New friends - Riley Garner with Perry Cray who filmed the women

“I spent about four hours with the police going through all of the evidence.

“It seems to only be raffles they’re focusing on as far as we’re aware.”

Three days after the video went viral Aline, 30, discovered they had also been spotted in Kirby Cross, Harwich, Ipswich and Chelmsford.

Essex Police confirmed enquiries into the alleged scam are continuing.

The mum still plans to go ahead with rebranding the family charity to provide clarity.

Riley desperately needs funds to help pay for his physiotherapy.

Aline said a successful concert raised more than £500 towards the cost.

Riley’s Superstar Concert featured top talent from across Tendring such as Royal Aces cheerleading squad and Aline’s 12-year-old daughter Faith-Louise, who is currently competing for Best Young Breakthrough Act in the South East Entertainment Awards.

She said: “Everyone who came absolutely loved it.

“It was a brilliant evening and Faith was amazing too.

“Riley loved it, he was trying to dance on stage at the end.

“The plan is try to do a large event like this annually.

“We’re very blessed to have a musical theatre family so our friends and family are all performers.”

Anyone with information about the alleged scam should contact PC Laura Conerery at Clacton police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

  • Essex Police advice on how to identify genuine callers can be found here.