by Emma Grove

A thief who stole a charity box for injured servicemen has been described as “despicable”.

The Help for Heroes’ (H4H) collection pot was taken from Queenborough Social Club this month.

Staff at the North Road establishment have now organised a raffle to try and get back some of the £150 which was stolen.

The money had been raised by members through donations and the sale of wristbands.

H4H raises money to help the rehabilitation and welfare of injured members of the armed forces.

Rodney Holkham, chairman of the Dannyboy Trust, which was set up in memory of his son Daniel, the 19-year-old soldier who was killed in Afghanistan last year, has described the thief as “despicable”.

He said: “The perpetrators of this theft obviously feel their own needs are greater than those people who have stood and fought to keep them and us all free and safe.

“They have not only stolen from those who truly need and deserve it but have also stolen from many people that they live among.

“I hope that when they are spending the ill-gotten gains or see yet another casualty reported in the paper or on television, they take a long hard look in the mirror and hang their heads in shame.

“I think I speak for my family and the trust when I say I find this act extremely despicable.”

Club steward John Scott has bought an H4H hoody which is being raffled for the charity.

His wife Fiona, who works at the club, said: “We support Help for Heroes because we think the lads do a wonderful job.

“It’s terrible that somebody should take the collection box.”

Tickets for the raffle cost £1 a strip and are available at the club.

Police are appealing for information about the theft, which happened between 10am and 10.30am on Sunday, January 2.

They have issued a description of the offender.

He is white, thought to be between 17 and 18 years old, with dark brown hair, clean shaven, was wearing a bomber jacket with a hood and is of solid build.

If you have any information, phone police on 01795 584110 quoting crime reference number CY/306/11.