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Cardiff Solicitor Sentenced for Defrauding Cancer Charity
A solicitor from Cardiff has been sentenced after defrauding Cancer Research UK of thousands of pounds by submitting false invoices for will-writing services he did not perform. Michael Fogg, 47, from Cyncoed, was found guilty of fraud by false representation following an investigation launched by the charity.
According to the prosecutor, Charles Arches, Fogg’s company, Trusting Willpower Ltd, joined the charity’s free will-writing service in 2021. The service is designed to provide individuals with access to free will-writing assistance, with solicitors allowed to invoice Cancer Research UK £120 plus VAT for standard wills and £170 plus VAT for mirror wills.
Concerns were raised on July 6, 2023, when Kelly Brooks, the legal partnership manager for Cancer Research UK, alerted Phil Sapey, the counter-fraud manager, regarding discrepancies in Fogg’s invoicing. The charity had sent 32 thank-you cards to individuals who were purportedly his clients, but many recipients claimed they had not engaged Fogg’s services.
Investigations revealed that Trusting Willpower Ltd invoiced the charity for £29,090, with £18,150 already paid out. However, the charity withheld further payments pending verification of the services provided. In total, 250 emails were sent to supposed clients, of which 58 were returned as undeliverable. Nine individuals confirmed they had never used Fogg’s services.
A police investigation led to Fogg’s arrest, but during questioning, he denied any wrongdoing and chose to answer “no comment” to most questions. The total sum involved in the fraudulent claims was £4,800, as detailed by Mr Arches, who described Fogg’s actions as an abuse of trust that could have financed critical medical services, such as up to 48 biopsies.
Fogg, who has no previous convictions, later expressed his remorse and pleaded guilty to the charges. During sentencing at Newport Crown Court, Judge Carl Harrison remarked on Fogg’s exploitation of his professional position for personal gain. Fogg received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with a requirement to complete 120 hours of community service and 24 days of rehabilitation activities.
Detective Constable Thomas Connick of Tarian ROCU emphasised the violation of trust associated with Fogg’s actions, which impacted a charity reliant on public donations for vital cancer research. He extended appreciation to Cancer Research UK for their thoroughness in identifying and reporting the discrepancies.
Upon leaving court, Fogg declined to comment further when approached by local media.
