The bloke who started, and then swiftly removed, a GoFundMe campaign to renovate his home has been revealed to be a convicted fraudster.
Adam Stark launched the online fundraiser alongside partner Ali Jennings after moving into their 'outdated' home, which they said was previously owned by an elderly man and was in dire need of modernisation.
The key-worker couple set a £2,500 ($3,400) target, but later removed the page - which had donations of just £10 ($13) - after an online backlash.
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Today it's been revealed Stark was jailed in 2017 for his part in a dangerous crash for cash scam, Staffordshire Live reports.
Stark was one of a group of individuals involved in the £500,000 ($690,000) scam that was carried out between 2011 and 2013 and saw 41 crashes engineered so that fraudulent claims could be made for non-existent injuries, damages and storage costs.
He was sentenced to four years and nine months in jail after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud, but was released before the end of his sentence for good behaviour. He was also ordered to pay back £2,434.59 ($3,377.27).
The 31-year-old, who now works delivering supplies to hospitals, said he has turned his life around since his conviction and wants to 'move on with his life'.
Speaking to Staffordshire Live he said: "I'd put the conviction behind me. I've made a mistake. I'm not proud of it, but now it's in the past.
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"I'm open about it and have nothing to hide. It happened when I fell in with a bad group of people.
"Now I've done my time and it's behind me. If asked, I wouldn't lie about it.
"It was a bad point in my life and it's changed me and made me a better person.
"I'm now settled down and have a job helping people. It's a new chapter in my life and my conviction is no longer relevant to me.
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"But it seems you just can't seem to shake off things that have happened in the past and mistakes you've made.
"I've taken my punishment for it and everyone deserves a second chance in life.
"I'd now ask people to allow me to move on with my life."
He also admitted that his GoFundMe campaign had been a 'bit cheeky' but says the reaction to it was 'over the top'.
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He told the newspaper: "On this occasion, it didn't work out. It's been removed due to abuse that's been received.
"The reaction's been over the top. If it was this time last year, it would've been a different story.
"People were saying NHS workers deserve more than they get and there were fundraising campaigns everywhere.
"I'm not saying I'm entitled and, granted, it was a bit cheeky asking."
Featured Image Credit: Stoke Live/BPM MEDIA/Derbyshire Police