Anyone came across the one who played Bagpipes with JF96 banner well he's been found guilty of fraud.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/hillsborough-bagpipe-fraudster-guilty-using-12326721A bagpiping conman was found GUILTY of pretending to collect cash for victims of the Hillsborough disaster - while lining his own pockets.
Angus Carpenter played the instrument in Liverpool city centre dressed in full military uniform and draped in a ‘Justice for the 96’ banner on April 14 - the day before the anniversary of the tragedy.
The 62-year-old, who claimed he was just a busker, was convicted of one count of fraud by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court today.
Carpenter, of Hunts Cross Avenue, Woolton was cleared of two counts of fraud relating to the use of a fake Help for Heroes sticker and one relating to another occasion he used the Hillsborough banner.
Prosecution counsel Katy Appleton, delivering her closing speech to the jury today, said: “He knew exactly what he was trying to achieve.. his intention was to dupe innocent, unsuspecting passers by, members of the public.”
Gary Lawrenson, defending, said Carpenter was a “larger than life” character who had been busking for years in the city and had never come to the attention of the police.
However Ms Appleton said: “He lined his own pockets, with the knock on effect of causing loss to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Please don’t let him dupe you and pull the wool over your eyes as you will see he has done with members of the public.”
During the trial the jury heard Carpenter has been warned specifically about using ‘props’ relating to the Hillsborough tragedy - and told it was a “sensitive time” due to the jury inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans.
A police officer spoke to Carpenter, who was dressed in full military uniform and had what looked like Help for Heroes stickers on a bucket, in Church Street one day in February last year.
Ms Appleton said: “Sergeant Chris Gaynor formed the opinion the public would form the view he was collecting for a registered military charity and not simply for his own pocket.”
Bagpiper accused of Hillsborough charity fraud 'just wanted justice'
She said Carpenter explained he was having a banner made referring to the tragedy.
Ms Appleton said he was warned if he was not a registered charity collector, he would be committing a serious offence.
However Carpenter was seen by two officers in Mathew Street, on March 28 this year with a red and blue banner which stated on both sides: “Justice for the 96.”
The court heard he was warned about committing fraud but told officers: “I’m just a busker, I’m not collecting for any charity.”
He had also been seen playing the bagpipes outside Anfield on match days, while displaying the banner.
During the trial the jury heard from chairman of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign (HJC), Kenneth Derbyshire, who said Carpenter came to speak to him at the charity’s shop in 2015.
He said: “It was basically could he use our logo for a banner he wanted made up. I gave him permission to use the banner.
“He wanted to have a banner made up as a tribute to the 96.”
Katy Appleton, prosecuting, asked: “Did you discuss him collecting money on the charity’s behalf?”
“Yes,” he said. “I turned to him and said on no account can you collect on our behalf. He just agreed with me.”
Mr Derbyshire also told the jury Carpenter had never been into the charity shop with any donations for the campaign, which aims to support the families of the 96.
But the final offence took place on April 14 this year, when Carpenter was stopped while playing the bagpipes draped in the banner, at the junction of Church Street and Williamson Street in the city centre.
When he was told to remove the banner as he was under investigation for fraud, he replied: “I’m going to fight this. I agreed the design with the justice shop.”
He will be sentenced on January 10.
