A family raising money after their relative suddenly died has been told to hand the funds back because of his criminal history. 

Stuart Jackson, 40, had been riding his e-scooter in Highland Park on the Gold Coast when he fell off and suffered critical injuries.

Jackson was due to welcome his first child in a matter of weeks and a relative set up a GoFundMe to help with ‘funeral arrangements,’ and financial support for his pregnant wife Kellie.

But now his grieving family are facing a bitter backlash with demands to refund the $18,000 in donations after it was revealed Jackson pleaded guilty to sexual assault and making recordings in breach of privacy in 2014.

At the time, Jackson claimed he was drunk and high on ecstasy tablets when he went clubbing in Brisbane. 

At 5am on April 12 he followed two male friends and a 22-year-old woman back to an  apartment where the woman passed out drunk in the bedroom.

While the other two friends left to call a taxi, Jackson used his mobile phone to photograph the woman in indecent poses and filmed himself kissing and caressing her semi-nude body.

The horrified friends caught him in the act and called police who confiscated Jackson’s phone and uncovered the photos and a video recording.

Stuart Jackson, 40, had been riding his e-scooter in Highland Park on the Gold Coast when he fell off and suffered critical injuries

Stuart Jackson, 40, had been riding his e-scooter in Highland Park on the Gold Coast when he fell off and suffered critical injuries 

Jackson's previous crimes were posted to a popular Facebook group

Jackson’s previous crimes were posted to a popular Facebook group

He was later handed a nine-month suspended jail sentence.

After his death, family member Leesa Kenyon said the couple had been trying for a child for several years and had recently bought a home together. 

‘Everything is so overwhelming at the moment. We are all trying to stay strong for Kellie in this heart-wrenching time,’ Ms Kenyon told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘The accident is one you would never want anyone to have to deal with, let alone being four weeks off having a baby. It breaks my heart.’

The page describes Jackson as a ‘fantastic, loyal, caring, hard-working husband… in his prime preparing to introduce his baby girl-to-be into the world’.

‘Words can not describe the heartache of this tragedy for all family and friends.’

But when previous articles about his shocking crime started to circulate on Facebook page Offenders Exposed, hundreds of people left angry comments outraged by the amount raised. 

‘Go to the website and report it, also let them know that he is a sex offender,’ urged one person. 

‘I cant believe $18,000 was raised for his GoFundMe before it stopped accepting donations. They originally aimed for $10k then moved it to $20k,’ added another. 

Jackson was due to welcome his first child in a matter of weeks

Jackson was due to welcome his first child in a matter of weeks 

‘I guess it’s mostly for his unborn child. But still they shouldn’t be posting him as a “nice guy”.

‘Maybe the money would be better switched to his victim,’ added a third.

 Others said his wife needed the funds.

‘Give it to his wife and baby. Help them set up a better life without him,’ commented one group member. 

‘Or a trust fund for bubba when she is older? Either way the mother has lost an income and will likely struggle. Kids are expensive.’

At his hearing 10 years ago, Jackson had expressed his remorse and shame for his intoxicated behaviour through his lawyer Ron Frigo

‘He realises he has brought shame on both himself and his family,’ Frigo said. 

Mr Frigo also told the court his client had a clean history and had not intended on sharing or uploading the indecent recordings.

There was a bitter backlash to the fundraising efforts with many commenters expressing their anger

There was a bitter backlash to the fundraising efforts with many commenters expressing their anger

But Magistrate Paul Johnstone said neither Jackson’s clean history nor his excuse of being intoxicated could save him from a criminal conviction. 

‘This is just yet another example of a man taking advantage of a woman who found herself in a very vulnerable situation,’ Magistrate Johnston said. 

Jackson was convicted and sentenced him to nine months’ jail wholly suspended for two years. 

A passerby found Jackson unresponsive after his e-scooter crash, and despite paramedics’ efforts he was declared dead at the scene.

The Forensic Crash Unit are investigating the circumstances of the incident and are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who has relevant footage to come forward. 

At the time of writing this the GoFundMe page was deactivated. 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk