Ex-clerk defrauded council out of £200k
A CLERK at a town council defrauded her employer of at least £200,000.
Margaret Buckley wrote more than 120 cheques to herself, her daughter, a local church and its flower group.
Buckley, 76, started as a deputy clerk at Maesteg Town Council in 2003 before being promoted to clerk in 2016 when her predecessor retired.
She held the position until she retired in 2020.
Between 2004 and 2011, she was the director of a Bridgend charity which supported vulnerable families.
Pushing a walking frame, Buckley attended Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, accused of defrauding the council of £238,820.54 for her own gain.
She pleaded guilty to dishonestly abusing her position when she was expected to safeguard the council’s financial interests.
Her solicitor John McCarthy said: “There may be an issue with the amount but she accepts it was at least £200,000. We will see what happens in Crown Court.”
Prosecutor Simone Walsh said: “From 2015 to 2020, she made out over 120 cheques from Maesteg Town Council to herself, her daughter, the Our Lady & St Patrick Church and the church flower group without the knowledge of the council.
“She made full admissions in an interview.
“Ms Buckley abused her position of power by defrauding her longterm employer and carried out the offence over a significant period of time.”
She added: “The sentence is beyond the remit of this court due to the amount of money involved in this case.”
Buckley, of Llwydarth Road, has “significant health problems” and would benefit from a pre-sentence report from the probation service, said Mr McCarthy.
Presiding Justice Nigel Buckland requested a report and adjourned the case to July 14 at Cardiff Crown Court.