text: A terminally ill fundraiser who claimed to have close celebrity contacts to gain the trust of a charity for terminally ill children stole a laptop, sat nav and phone from the organisation. Simon Mitchell, 44, stole the expensive equipment from Donna's Dream House, a charity for terminally ill children based in Blackpool, Lancashire. Following a three year investigation the volunteer worker admitted stealing a laptop and TomTom satnav from the charity - despite the fact he was meant to be helping the charity by raising its profile following a devastating arson attack in 2011. Terminally ill fundraiser Simon Mitchell, 44, (pictured left with Richard Hammond and right with Katie Price) stole  from Donna's Dream House, a charity for terminally ill children based in Blackpool, Lancashire . The charity also say Mitchell repeatedly let them down and left them picking up the pieces when meetings with his supposed star-studded contacts failed to materialise. Mitchell had been given the laptop and a phone to use by the Dream House when he volunteered for them but did not return them after he left the charity. He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft at Preston Crown Court where he was due to stand trial after a three-year criminal investigation. Len Curtis, chairman of the charity which provides holidays for sick and needy children, said following the hearing: 'He came to us immediately after the fire, when we were very vulnerable and needed help. 'We were taking people on face value without running our usual CRB checks and we allowed him to get involved because he claimed to know all of these famous people. 'He was a volunteer and his role was meant to be fundraising and raising the charity's profile through all these great contacts he claimed to have. 'But it soon became apparent something wasn't right. Mitchell on his wedding day with wife Kerrie - he has now pleaded guilty to two counts of theft . 'It is soul destroying when the trust you place in someone is betrayed.' The theft from Donna's Dream House came just months after Mitchell made headlines claiming to be carrying out a 'bucket list' of good deeds to complete after revealing his own lung cancer diagnosis and desire to raise cash for poorly children. In 2012 Mitchell, with the help of different charities, arranged for two sick youngsters to meet celebrities such as the cast of Top Gear and Katie Price, saying his aim was to raise £100,000 in the two years he was told he had left. But Mr Curtis said Donna's Dream House was left red-faced and out of pocket after a 'Top Gear Day' Mitchell was supposed to organise never happened despite the trust auctioning it as a prize. The charity ended up having to reimburse the disappointed winner. The theft came just months after Mitchell made headlines claiming to be carrying out a 'bucket list' of good deeds (he is pictured with The Stig) 'He even left the people waiting at the train station for people who didn't turn up,' the chairman said, adding there had been a similar occasion with a Ferrari experience that never materialised. He said the two failed events had cost the charity around £6,500 to put right. Mr Curtis said Mitchell's thefts only came to light when satellite navigations firm TomTom contacted them to check the charity had received their donation of a sat nav - which Mitchell had kept for himself. Mr Curtis said: We didn't see this coming. He was only with us for a few months but this has had a detrimental effect on us. Mr Curtis said they pursued legal action to make people aware of Mitchell and what he was doing in case he tried to steal from another charity. He added: 'I would urge all charities to show due diligence when accepting offers of support particularly at vulnerable times.' Mitchell pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone and laptop computer, worth around £540, from the Dream House between New Year's Day and September 1, 2012. He also admitted stealing the sat nav. He is due to be sentenced at Preston Crown Court next month. Mr Curtis added: 'He would promise people things with these celebrities in exchange for goods and services. But when he failed to deliver they never finished the work. 'There were just the odd small things that he did deliver. 'I think he's a fantasist, he just fantasised that he had all these great contacts. 'I don't think he's an evil person, I just think he totally believes his own lies. 'He lied and he lied  to us and to himself.'
target: Terminally ill Simon Mitchell, 44, stole laptop and satnav from charity .
  He volunteered as a fundraiser for children's charity Donna's Dream House .
  Mitchell has pleaded guilty to two counts of theft following investigation .
  Charity's chairman says Mitchell is a 'fantasist' who claimed to have celebrity contacts but repeatedly let charity down - costing them £6,500 .