A man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment after stealing from a charity who had been raising money for his terminally ill daughter to swim with dolphins.

Albi Elliot, 44, of Vines Cross, Heathfield, was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court to 3 years imprisonment on Tuesday 24 June, for fraud regarding the  £3,500 donated on 9 December 2010, in Littlehampton, from the Climping-based Sussex British Motor Cycle Owners Club.

Elliot's daughter, Ashanti Elliot-Smith, 11, suffers from Hutchinson-Gildford Progeria – a rare ageing disease that mean she is unlikely to live past 15.

The case, investigated by DC Jennie Hutchinson from West Sussex CID, related to theft of money which had been raised by the Club for Elliot's daughter to visit Orlando in Florida and swim with the dolphins.

DC Hutchinson said; "Elliott kept the money and spent it on himself, including his own holidays and general living expenses. I would like to thank all the witnesses involved that have assisted in getting to a guilty verdict."