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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.
Questions were being asked about Plas Madoc, including some of those who worked on the project. Paul Blackwell, who represents the ward of Plas Madoc on Wrexham council, said it had been a difficult period for those on the project.
One of those was Frank Biggs who said he did try to raise his concerns when he worked there temporarily. "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."