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Clerk pleads guilty to £6,000 fraud
A former clerk has pleaded guilty to defrauding a parish council of more than £6,000.
Amanda Baldwin paid cheques from Northill Parish Council’s bank account into her own and lied about a previous conviction for theft when she applied for the job.
Baldwin, of Spitfire Road, Shefford, admitted 18 counts of fraud and one of deception at Luton Crown Court last month.
The 42-year-old paid nine cheques into her account between June 2010 and September 2011, totalling £6,124.91.
She then resigned but was arrested in February this year after the council discovered discrepancies in the accounts.
Baldwin also pleaded guilty to deception after failing to declare that she was already serving a suspended prison sentence for theft when she filled out an application form for the position.
She was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, with a 12-month supervision order.
The court also ordered her to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.
In a statement Northill Parish Council assured tax payers that all of the money would be reimbursed in full.
It said: “A significant part of the money stolen has been paid back and Luton Crown Court made a compensation order for the balance, based on the defence figures.
“However, Northill Parish Council believes the defence figures to be inaccurate, and is considering contesting the award.”
It added: “Ms Baldwin’s signed application for our clerk’s job included the statement that she had no criminal record and her references from another parish council were sound enough.
“Now that the case has almost been resolved, the council would like to reassure parishioners that it has taken steps with its banking procedures to ensure that criminal activity cannot be repeated.”
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Thursday 20 June 2013
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