Fake military man to be sentenced over charity collection

Date published: 11 June 2010

A man who dressed in military uniform pretending to collect for a charity supporting wounded soldiers is due to be sentenced for deception.

Liam Kissane, 28, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to three deception offences at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

He was also found guilty of fraud by false representation at an earlier hearing.

Dressed in a military uniform with a Royal Marines pin, Kissane went to Ashton-under-Lyne on Monday 28 December 2009. He had a collection box for the charity Help for Heroes, as well as moneybags.

He went to pubs in the area and said he was collecting for the charity. The next day, still in the uniform, he went to shops in the town centre, continuing to ask for money.

A member of the public grew suspicious and alerted two patrolling neighbourhood police officers.

The officers followed him into a card shop, and asked him to come outside.

They challenged Kissane, who admitted he didn't have any genuine ID. He was arrested on suspicion of fraud, and had almost £300 in his possession.

In police interviews, Kissane admitted he had never served in the armed forces and also said that he bought the Royal Marines' pin.