Three brave building company executives from Yorkshire property solutions company, Strategic Team Group, felt the long arm of the law on Friday 9th April 2010, as they were publically arrested on trumped up charges at Leeds' most glamorous Italian restaurant, Bibis Italianissimo, in a 'jail and bail' fundraiser all in the name of charity.

With the help of national youth crime prevention charity, Prison! Me No Way (PMNW), which is run by prison officers, and in aid of the Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract, which cares for adults with progressive illnesses offering specialist respite, terminal and palliative care, Strategic Team Group's chosen charity for the next two years, the team of three offenders were tasked with collectively raising a total of £10,000 bail money.

In a pre-arranged court hearing, all three offenders were found guilty of various charges ranging from offensive fashion sense, a break in and robbery at a pie factory to the theft of a burger van. After being arrested, the fundraising felons were tasked with raising between £2,000 and £4,000 each, to date the team are still frantically calling in favours!

Each of the three accused, which include business development director, Charles Tweed, buyer, Matt Wilby and contracts manager, Paul Danisz, faced a noisy arrest by real prison officers from PMNW as they blissfully enjoyed culinary delights at Bibis in Leeds. The three were ordered to change into black and white 'jail bird' uniforms and were handcuffed and let out to a mobile prison cell. All privileges will be removed, bar mobile phones, the felons then faced the task of calling friends, family and colleagues to plead for bail money.

Commenting on the 'jail and bail' fundraiser, Strategic Team Group's business development director and fellow felon, Charles Tweed said:

"We are celebrating our 10th anniversary this month and have committed to raising a total of £100,000 for The Prince of Wales Hospice, so what better way to kick off our fundraising activity than a 'jail and bail'.

"Being locked in a prison cell with other villains, was a serious incentive to raise the bail money!"

Nikki Ridgway, fundraising manager at The Prince of Wales Hospice added:

"We are extremely grateful to Strategic Team Group for selecting the hospice as their nominated charity for the next two years and for kick starting their fundraising in such an exciting way. A great deal of commitment will be needed by the "jail and bail" fundraising team to raise an incredible £10,000, and we appreciate the time and effort that each individual will be giving to this initiative. A donation of this size will help the hospice to continue offering care for patients' at the most difficult time of their lives. We wish the team the very best of luck with this challenging fundraising task and thank them in advance for their support."

Bibis managing director, Oliver Teodorani added:

"We are delighted to be involved in this rather unusual fundraiser and wish all the offenders every success with raising their bail target of £10,000."

To make a donation visit http://www.justgiving.com/Charles-stg