Grandfather Mark Davis Accused of Stealing Daughter’s Cancer Funds Appears in Court

Newport, Wales – A 51-year-old grandfather has appeared in court accused of defrauding his terminally ill daughter out of thousands of pounds raised for her cancer treatment.

Mark Davis, from Fleetwood Close, Newport, is alleged to have taken £4,059.27 while acting as the administrator of a GoFundMe campaign created to support his daughter, India Davis — who later became known as India Skinner before her death.

India, a mother-of-two, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which returned and became terminal after doctors had previously given her just a 10% chance of relapse. She died aged 24 in 2022, surrounded by loved ones at The Grange Hospital in Cwmbran.

Fundraiser Turned Controversy

The GoFundMe account in question was set up in 2021 to help cover the cost of specialist cancer treatments for India. While the campaign raised over £6,000, prosecutors allege that Davis mishandled a portion of the funds, leaving his daughter financially short during the most critical period of her life.

India’s widower, Jason Skinner, and his sister Samantha later launched another GoFundMe to help fund India’s funeral. In a heartfelt message, they described her as a loving, strong woman whose life ended far too soon.

Court Proceedings

Mark Davis appeared at Cardiff Crown Court, represented by defence solicitor Jac Brown, while Tom Roberts led the prosecution. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke granted Davis bail ahead of his scheduled trial on April 21, 2026, where he will face charges of fraud. He has pleaded not guilty.

A Family in Mourning

India’s family remains devastated. Her sister-in-law Samantha Skinner said: “Jason has been left shattered by the loss of India. She was his best friend and first love, but he is being so incredibly strong for their daughters.”

India had spoken out during her illness about the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare, urging others to push for answers and never dismiss their symptoms. She once said: “I look at the world differently now… Life is too short to have hate. Keep going to the doctors and keep telling them what feels wrong.”