Stacey Worsley, the mum of Toby Nye, has been suspended from her role as a senior health care assistant for 12 months.
Worsley avoided jail in March 2019 after she gambled away £100,000 of her son's cancer treatment fund. The 33-year-old, from Osmondthorpe in Leeds, lost her son Toby in January last year, just days after his sixth birthday, following a two-year battle with cancer.
Worsley pleaded guilty to fraud after abusing her position on the basis the £100,000 donated was to pay for life-saving neuroblastoma treatment for Toby. Toby's fight against the disease was well-documented in the media, with Leeds United donating thousands to the cause.
In a hearing to determine her future as a registered nurse, Worsley was described as "otherwise kind-hearted, moral and sensible", but that her "culpability is high due to the high degree of breach of trust".
The 33-year-old was suspended from her role as a senior health case assistant for a period of 12 months from February 2020 but can return as a nurse once the suspension has been served.
The hearing achnowledged the "confidence of those who donated their time and effort to support the cause" and the thousands of pounds donated.
'In my opinion, you became overwhelmed by the situation you found yourself in'
The judge said: "In my judgment, your culpability is high due to the high degree of breach of trust. You were the only trustee. The large number of victims and the sustained period during which you removed the money - that is, about a year - rates your culpability as high."
Considering mitigation, the judge added: "These were difficult and testing times for you. You are said by others to be honest and trustworthy, but you were not during this entire year.
"You are otherwise caring and kind-hearted, moral and sensible.
"I note also that you realise the potential effect upon others who might be tempted not to donate money collected for a specific purpose to other good and worthy causes in the future.
"In my judgment, you became overwhelmed by the situation in which you found yourself. Even your partner didn’t know what you were doing. And so, you behaved in a way that you never have before. It was out of character and disastrous for you.”
