A TEENAGER who set up a fake GoFundMe page in the wake of a quadruple-fatal car crash, raising almost £6,500, will not face jail and instead has been told to do rehabilitation activities.

Kyle Saunders set up the fundraising page in the memory of Matthew Parke, Corey Owen, Ryan Nelson and Jordan Rawlings, who were killed in a crash on the A4 at Derry Hill on August 16, 2020.

The Volkswagen Polo they were in, driven by Jordan, had crashed into a house and burst into flames.

But Saunders, from Blackbird Court in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, set up the page pretending to raise money in their memory, when he actually kept the money for himself.

He raised £6,479.59 under a memorial titled “Jordan, Corey, Matt, Ryan Memorial”.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Amanda Parke who lost her 19 year old son Matthew at at the Calne Pocket Park shrine to the boys who diedAmanda Parke who lost her 19 year old son Matthew at at the Calne Pocket Park shrine to the boys who died

The 18-year-old had previously admitted fraud by false representation when appearing before Swindon Magistrates’ Court on December 1, 2021, and on Tuesday, he appeared before the same court to be sentenced.

Saunders was given a 12-month community order, during which he will need to complete 12 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £2,000 in compensation to GoFundMe. There was no order for costs or a victim surcharge, because compensation took priority.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Victim Corey's funeralVictim Corey's funeral

Andrew Eddy, a senior prosecutor for the CPS, said: “Kyle Saunders used public sympathy following the tragic death of four young people to make money for himself.

“The accident, in which they were involved, continues to affect the families and friends of the deceased and the local community. Saunders gave nothing to the bereaved families.

“The prosecution case was so strong that he pleaded guilty and now has a criminal record.”

READ MORE: Songwriter's moving tribute to friends lost in Derry Hill crash

A separate genuine fundraising page was set up to raise money for the four victims, who were all from Calne and aged between 19 and 20. It has raised £9,286 at the time of writing.

The money was put towards a garden of reflection which was built last summer at Castlefield Park in Calne.

At the inquest into their deaths last July, Wiltshire area coroner Ian Singleton heard how it was estimated that the car was travelling at between 117 to 122 miles per hour just before the crash happened.

The hearing was also told how Jordan, the driver, had drunk four beers in the hours leading up to the crash.