Pond life

Pair caught fishing charity coins out of wishing well

Barefaced ... pair fish coins out of fountain

Newsteam / SWNS Group

TWO shameless thieves have been caught pinching coins from a wishing well used to help raise funds for dying children.

The brazen pair were spotted by stunned passers-by as they hit the town centre fountain in Redditch, Worcs. on Monday afternoon.

One of the men used a long stick to reach for the charity cash, while the other lay on his front and dipped his whole arm in.

Witnesses said the pair simply continued to trawl the one-foot deep water despite pleas from members of the public to stop.

Mum-of-six Sharon Bevis, 33, snapped the scene on her mobile phone.

Daylight robbery ... men use sticks to get at charity cash

Newsteam / SWNS Group

She said: “They were taking the money out for bus fare and beer money and they were just not bothered at all when I told them they were bang out of order for doing it.

“They were drunk and didn’t seem to care that there were lots of people around and even children watching.

“I told them what they were doing was appalling and that the money goes to children’s charities but they didn’t listen.

“The strange thing is if you look at the pictures you can see their clothes were clean and new so they didn’t look like they needed the money.”

Spotted ... pair carry on despite being photographed

Newsteam

The fountain is cleaned once a year and all money collected is donated to Acorns Children’s Hospice charity.

Members of Redditch Borough Council, which owns the fountain, today blasted the men’s actions.

Councillor Debbie Taylor said: “The reaction since these photos appeared has ranged from sheer bafflement to sympathy and anger, and we don’t want to get too carried away, but it’s clearly not on.

“For years now the bits of loose change that get swept up in the town, including when the fountain gets cleared out, have been gathered up, cleaned, and donated to charity.”

Monument ... in Redditch town centre

Newsteam / SWNS Group

Carole Crowe, fundraising manager for Acorns, said: “It’s very disappointing to hear of this.

“We rely on fundraising and voluntary donations for the majority of our income so donations such as this are vital in ensuring we are able to continue to provide care and support to local children and their families.”

West Mercia Police today said the force was aware of the incident and are trying to identify the two men pictured.