A fake charity collector who duped football fans attending the England V Denmark march at Wembley Stadium has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Jason O’Neill, from Edmonton, north London, fraudulently claimed to be collecting money for the Help for Heroes charity on March 5 this year.

However a suspicious member of the public called the police and the 40-year-old was found in possession of a fraudulent Brent Council pass, a hi-visibility jacket and a ‘Help for Heroes’ collection bucket he had made.

His scam was confirmed by the charity who told police he was not a registered collector and they had received no donations from him.

At Willesden Magistrates’ Court O’Neill admitted fraud by false representation and possessing articles for use in fraud and was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for nine months.

PC Roisin Daly, investigation officer, said: “This was a greedy and selfish act. O’Neill pre-planned to take advantage of generous members by making a bucket and a pass.

“He then fooled members of the public who believed they were giving to a good cause.”