Jared O'Mara court blog: Day two gets under way after trial hears ex-Sheffield MP attempted to use taxpayers’ money to 'fund cocaine habit’
and live on Freeview channel 276
He is charged with filing fraudulent expenses amounting to £28,650 during the time he represented Sheffield Hallam between June 2017 and November 2019. The expenses are reportedly related to services by his former lead aide and co-defendant Gareth Arnold, aged 28, of School Lane, Dronfield, who is facing six counts of the same offence.
They are due to appear in court alongside John Woodliff, aged 42, of Hesley Road, Sheffield, who is charged with an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act, as are O'Mara and Arnold. He and his co-defendants have previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe prosecution yesterday accused O’Mara of trying to use taxpayers’ money as his personal kitty to fund an ‘extensive cocaine habit’.
Our reporter Sarah Marshall is covering the case. You can follow our live blog here.
Jared O’Mara case: Day two gets under way after court hears former Sheffield MP attempted to use taxpayers’ money ‘to fund extensive cocaine habit’
Key Events
- O’Mara is charged with filing fraudulent expenses amounting to £28,650 during the time he represented Sheffield Hallam.
- The expenses are reportedly related to services by his former lead aide and co-defendant Gareth Arnold, aged 28, of School Lane, Dronfield, who is facing six counts of the same offence.
- They are due to appear in court alongside John Woodliff, aged 42, of Hesley Road, Sheffield, who is charged with an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act, as are O’Mara and Arnold. He and his co-defendants have previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.
1.30pm - IPSA received a claim made on O’Mara’s behalf for approximately £3,000
Ms Wilson told the court that she had a meeting with Det Sgt Shields on 27/07/19, during which she confirmed that IPSA had indeed received a claim made on O’Mara’s behalf for approximately £3,000, after checking with colleagues.
1.32pm - “I asked the validation team* if they could make sure they check all of Mr O’Mara’s claims in future
“I asked the validation team* if they could make sure they check all of Mr O’Mara’s claims in future,” Ms Wilson said. *She previously told the court that the validation team check claims submitted to IPSA & verify whether sufficient evidence has been received to support a claim
1.40pm - Ms Wilson said she ‘wanted to hear from his [O’Mara’s] point of view’
Ms Wilson said she ‘wanted to hear from his [O’Mara’s] point of view’ and spoke to him over the phone, and asked him about why some of the claims had not been submitted within the 90-day time frame MPs are bound by.
1.44pm - O’Mara made reference to ‘torn bicep’
She said O’Mara cited issues with staffing, after a number of individuals left his office between March and April 2019; and said he had been unable to submit them himself due to having a ‘torn bicep’ on his left arm, and also has cerebral palsy, affecting his left hand.
1.50pm - Ms Wilson said she subsequently went through some of Mr O’Mara’s claims herself
Ms Wilson said she subsequently went through some of Mr O’Mara’s claims herself, and Mr Bourne-Arton asked her whether she noticed any issues with the invoices she reviewed.
2pm - Confident About Autism South Yorkshire organisation discussed in court
Referring to one she reviewed for ‘Confident About Autism South Yorkshire, she said she noticed the font and format was different to that of other invoices submitted for the same organisation.
2.05pm - ‘Both the lack of uniformity with the invoices, and issues with the serial numbers were flagged up’
“Normally, we would expect organisations to use the same software [and formatting with every invoice],” Ms Wilson said, suggesting that both the lack of uniformity with the invoices, and issues with the serial numbers were flagged up by her.
2.10pm - Afternoon session is under way
Afternoon session has now started, and Mr Bourne-Arton is continuing to ask Ms Wilson about the invoices submitted on O’Mara’s behalf.
2.14pm - O’Mara asked for claims to be approved
Ms Wilson told the court that following O’Mara’s resignation as Sheffield Hallam MP on February 17, 2020 he contacted her and told her that the police investigation against him had concluded with no action and asked her to approve claims to reimburse him for expenses he’d paid.
2.20pm - Ms Wilson said she contacted South Yorkshire Police who informed her the investigation against O’Mara had not concluded
Ms Wilson said she contacted South Yorkshire Police who informed her the investigation against O’Mara had not concluded. Mr Bourne-Arton said he has no further questions at the time.