A 20-year-old woman was today starting a community sentence after pocketing charity cash given to her as sponsorship money by members of the public, a court has heard.

Deena Ford sent off for a sponsorship pack from Cancer Research and, wearing a purple tabard that came with the pack, she visited a local pub to collect donations from customers who were happy to pay up front, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Sentencing Ford to an 18-month supervision order, Recorder Andrew Hurst described the offences as mean. “Offences like these make the world a more cynical place,” he said.

Ford, of Galway Avenue, Ipswich, admitted two offences of fraud by making false representations to Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation that she would undertake fundraising on their behalf and donate money to their charity.

She also admitted two offences of shoplifting from GAP and Debenhams, two offences of converting criminal property, making a false representation to Ipswich Borough Council in relation to housing benefit and theft of �650 from a till at Gala Bingo in Ranelagh Road, Ipswich.

She asked for 60 offences to be considered and admitted being in breach of a suspended sentence.

She was given an 18-month supervision order and made the subject of a six-month drug rehabilitation order and a 28-day curfew order.

Sentencing her, Recorder Hurst said he was impressed with the steps she had taken to stop taking drugs and turn her life around.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said police officers discovered Ford’s dishonesty in relation to the two charities when they found sponsorship forms during a search of her flat.

Mr Crimp said Ford had helped herself to �650 from a till at Gala Bingo on September 24 last year.

Neil Saunders, for Ford, said she had turned her life around since splitting up from her boyfriend at Christmas.

She had been receiving help for her drug addiction and was a changed person, he added.