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Crime order hearing for Plas Madoc's Miriam Beard | Crime order hearing for Plas Madoc's Miriam Beard |
(40 minutes later) | |
The head of a regeneration project who defrauded a scheme meant to help one Wales' most deprived estates faces a court hearing to claw back the money. | The head of a regeneration project who defrauded a scheme meant to help one Wales' most deprived estates faces a court hearing to claw back the money. |
Miriam Beard, 55, of Henllan, Denbighshire, brought an end to her trial at Mold Crown Court on Thursday by pleading guilty. | Miriam Beard, 55, of Henllan, Denbighshire, brought an end to her trial at Mold Crown Court on Thursday by pleading guilty. |
She admitted having "milked" Plas Madoc Communities First Project in Wrexham of more than £51,000 in funds. | She admitted having "milked" Plas Madoc Communities First Project in Wrexham of more than £51,000 in funds. |
The proceeds of crime order hearing takes place later on Friday. | The proceeds of crime order hearing takes place later on Friday. |
She will be sentenced next month. | She will be sentenced next month. |
The trial heard that she helped herself and her family to more than £50,000 of the charity's money. | The trial heard that she helped herself and her family to more than £50,000 of the charity's money. |
She had initially denied the allegations, along with charges of lying about her age and qualifications. | She had initially denied the allegations, along with charges of lying about her age and qualifications. |
But on Thursday she pleaded guilty to nine of 12 charges. | But on Thursday she pleaded guilty to nine of 12 charges. |
These included accusations that she had paid her son more than £18,000 for the use of a caravan owned by the Welsh assembly-backed Plas Madoc project. | These included accusations that she had paid her son more than £18,000 for the use of a caravan owned by the Welsh assembly-backed Plas Madoc project. |
She allowed him to pay for £4,000 worth of fuel using the organisation's money and she had made up claims about a range of services provided for young people so she could help herself to the £25,000 the non-existent services were supposed to have cost. | She allowed him to pay for £4,000 worth of fuel using the organisation's money and she had made up claims about a range of services provided for young people so she could help herself to the £25,000 the non-existent services were supposed to have cost. |
The Plas Madoc Communities First Project began back in 2001 and as early as 2003 concerns were being raised about the way scheme was monitored and audited. | The Plas Madoc Communities First Project began back in 2001 and as early as 2003 concerns were being raised about the way scheme was monitored and audited. |
Beard only joined the project in 2003 and the offences which she has now pleaded guilty to took place between 2007 and 2009. | Beard only joined the project in 2003 and the offences which she has now pleaded guilty to took place between 2007 and 2009. |
Paul Blackwell, who represents the ward of Plas Madoc on Wrexham council, said it had been a difficult period for those on the project. | |
"It's a shame she didn't plead guilty any earlier because she's put a lot of people through the mill having to give evidence," he told BBC Radio Wales. | |
"I think the community is quite gutted she came into the community and stole £51,000." | |
A former co-ordinator of Plas Madoc Communities First, the Plaid Cymru North Wales AM Llyr Huws Gruffydd said there were "huge questions" to be asked about the running of the project. | |
"It was a systematic pattern of milking a scheme set up to serve the people of Plas Madoc." | |
Mr Gruffydd said questions need to be asked about about how Communities First was run. | |
Frank Biggs said he did try to raise his concerns when he worked there temporarily. | |
He said: "I was actively telling them that things were not right here and there should be an audit but nothing was ever done. | He said: "I was actively telling them that things were not right here and there should be an audit but nothing was ever done. |
"A lot of AMs were told about it, a lot of senior politicians were informed by myself that things were not right but nobody actually did anything. I don't understand why." | "A lot of AMs were told about it, a lot of senior politicians were informed by myself that things were not right but nobody actually did anything. I don't understand why." |
Beard's son, Daryl Kelly, 35, of Greater Manchester, admitted six charges against him at an earlier pre-trial review in Cardiff. | Beard's son, Daryl Kelly, 35, of Greater Manchester, admitted six charges against him at an earlier pre-trial review in Cardiff. |
His case will also be listed for a proceeds of crime order on Friday. He will also be sentenced next month. | His case will also be listed for a proceeds of crime order on Friday. He will also be sentenced next month. |
A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We welcome this development. We take any misuse of public funds very seriously and have reviewed our working practices to ensure that they are robust. | A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We welcome this development. We take any misuse of public funds very seriously and have reviewed our working practices to ensure that they are robust. |
"It is important that this case does not detract from the good work that is being achieved via the Communities First programme. | "It is important that this case does not detract from the good work that is being achieved via the Communities First programme. |
"The case accounts for a minuscule proportion of the Communities First budget, which is currently over £40m a year." | "The case accounts for a minuscule proportion of the Communities First budget, which is currently over £40m a year." |