STEVE IRWIN - IRWIN FRAUDSTER SLAMMED BY FRIENDS

A close pal of late conservationist STEVE IRWIN has been slammed as "un-Australian" for trying to profit from his death by selling fake charity stickers. The unidentified 20-year-old was convicted yesterday (16SEP06) of selling stickers of the crocodile wrestler which she claimed would benefit his Wildlife Warriors fund. She was also fined AUS$ 200 dollars ($150/GBP83). JOHN STAINTON, Irwin's long-time friend and manager, has slammed her actions as despicable. He said the CROCODILE HUNTER star would have been "absolutely appalled", and added, "The fact that people are cashing in, so to speak, on his legacy, trying to sell stuff like that for fundraising supposedly or even resale of the tickets for the memorial service, all of those things are really just not on and they're just not Australian." Irwin died earlier this month (04SEP06) after being stung in the chest by a stingray while diving on the Great Barrier Reef. A public memorial service will be held at his Australia Zoo on Wednesday (20SEP06).