The charity was unaware of the original source of the donation. "It was not their decision, it was a decision I made," said Stanford.
The society said it would have accepted the donation if it had come directly from Hindley. Director Jim Richards explained: "If it was acquired in a way that caused or could lead to harm we wouldn't take it. But she would have raised this money through hard work while in prison.
"She did great wrong but we shouldn't criticise her for the little reparation she tried to make."
See Opinion p16.