Forces for Good fraud: Chris O'Neill jailed for three years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21668150

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A conman who gambled money which was meant to have helped injured soldiers has been jailed for three years.

Chris O'Neill, from Colwyn Bay, had been given a £125,000 Welsh government grant for a hotel for ex-service personnel in Llandudno.

O'Neill, who admitted fraud, worked with an organisation called Forces For Good, but spent much of the cash on gambling, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.

The judge described it as a "wicked deception on the public purse".

Conwy council was supposed to administer the £125,000 grant on behalf of the Welsh government, but O'Neill went on a spending spree, gambling heavily, running up hotel bills and buying a speedboat before being caught by North Wales Police.

After Tuesday's court hearing, the council said it had repaid all the grant.

'Extremely disappointed'

Last month Falklands veteran Simon Weston called for tighter control on how grants to veterans' organisations were monitored.

Conwy council chief executive Iwan Davies said the authority was "extremely disappointed" it was among the victims of the "despicable fraud".

He said it was the council that referred the matter to North Wales Police.

"The council has dealt with the matter seriously," said Mr Davies.

"The circumstances have been fully investigated through a rigorous internal audit and our external auditors have carried out a thorough review of our arrangements for managing grants.

"The external auditor has already commented on the issue in reports to the council. The findings of Conwy's internal investigation will be reported to audit committee on 14 March 2013, the meeting will be open to the public.

'Cruelly took advantage'

"We can confirm Welsh government required the council to repay the grant. The repayment was made in financial year 2011/2012 from capital monies - no individual revenue budget was affected.

"In conclusion, we are satisfied that the necessary steps have been taken to reinforce our internal processes and procedures and these have been communicated to all relevant officers."

Gareth Preston, the crown advocate for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales, said O'Neill's offences represented "a flagrant breach of the trust" placed in him by a significant number of people.

"O'Neill carried out a fraud involving the misuse of scarce public funds that were meant to help a particularly vulnerable section of our society.

"He also cruelly took advantage of another vulnerable victim at a very difficult time in her life," added Mr Preston.

"There is little doubt that O'Neill's crimes have had a significant and negative impact on the prospects of all of those who have lost out as a result."