June 17, 2009

Charity Theft

A shocking story today- an 11 year old girl called Rio Hamblin recently died of stomach cancer. At the wake held in her memory, mourners donated money towards St George's Hospital in Rio's honour. John Lewendon, a family friend who was asked to look after the donation tin then stole the money from inside.

I started off the day outside Slough Magistrates Court, looking for Lewendon, who was sentenced to pay £100 in compensation and to 150 hours unpaid work. I then made my way to the pub where the wake was held, The Admiral Cunningham, and finally on to the family home to see Rio's mother, Zoe.


Sometimes photographing people without their permission can be a tricky business, both practically and morally. This one however was truly enjoyable- identifying this man in the national press can be seen as the additional part of his sentence.


Zoe sits on a bench in a new area of her garden, called 'Rio's Garden', in memory of her daughter.

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