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’
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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.
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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.
4.24pm - “I could see there was a growing dysfunction in his office”
Ms Wilson replied: “I could see there was a growing dysfunction in his office, like you said,” referring to the phrasing previously used by Mr Kelly when posing questions concerning the situation in O’Mara’s office around the time of the alleged offending.
5pm - That’s it for today
That’s it for today, the trial will continue tomorrow. Going to put together a court report for the @SheffieldStar summarising today’s evidence now. You’ll be able to read it online tonight at http://thestar.co.uk and in a future print edition, too