A MAJORETTE leader who is serving a suspended sentence for stealing cash from three troupes says she has nothing to do with her group’s fundraising campaign.

Jacqueline Gehring, the leader of the Clacton-based Silver Supremes majorettes, was criticised for spearheading a drive to send youngsters to a contest in Florida.

Ms Gehring, of Chapel Road, Ridgewell, was named as a contact in the appeal, which has seen the group get a number of hoax calls, but no genuine offers of support.

She was handed a year’s suspended sentence in April after admitting stealing about £3,600 from three majorettes groups, which was due to be spent on a competition in North Yorkshire.

The offence was committed in September 2007 and did not involve the Silver Supremes.

A concerned parent contacted the Gazette to ask if it was appropriate Ms Gehring should be involved in a fundraising effort.

They wrote: “I would not want my child to take part only to be let down at a later stage when the funds disappear.”

Ms Gehring, who said the group is considering cancelling the trip, said the children should not suffer for her past and she would not be handling any money.

She said: “What I have done should not affect those children.

“I find this quite distressing and quite upsetting.

“People are not fully aware of the situation and the effect it has had on myself and my family.

“I am sorry for what I did but I was unwell and I am now receiving treatment, and am doing everything I can to make myself better.

“There is no-one involved in my majorette troupe who does not know what happened.”

Ms Gehring is banned from handling money for majorette troupes or charity organisations, and says she does not deal with any cash or even attend fundraising events.

She said she does not have any details of the Silver Supremes bank account, and the troupe has a qualified accountant on its committee who reviews their books every month.