Grenfell Tower: Finance manager admits defrauding £60k of VICTIM FUNDS for luxury HOLIDAYS
A FINANCE manager for Kensington and Chelsea Council has admitted defrauding around £60,000 from the Grenfell Tower victim fund.
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Jenny McDonagh used pre-paid credit cards meant for survivors of the tragedy to withdraw a total of £62,000 over a 10-month period.
She spent the funds on trips to Dubai and Los Angeles, expensive dinners and online gambling.
The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to two offences of fraud, one of theft and another of concealing criminal property at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday.
McDonagh, from Abbey Wood, south-east London, was first arrested on August 1 and used the stolen cards again two days later.
Prosecutor Robert Simpson described her as a "serial fraudster" who "lives behind her means and gambles".
He said she used the stolen funds for a "trip to Dubai, Los Angeles, meals in expensive restaurants, hair appointments and personal luxuries for herself".
He added: "She spent quite a lot of money on online gambling. She spent £32,000 of which £16,000 was winnings and lost roughly £16,000 in online gambling."
Mr Simpson said McDonagh is married, but that her husband "does not want her to return to the matrimonial home".
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McDonagh appeared in the dock wearing a large green coat and showed no emotion as the details of her offending were relayed to the court.
She also has to surrender her passport and is banned from applying for other travel documents.
A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesman said: "We take fraud very seriously and we have always taken action to root out Grenfell fraud wherever it takes place.
"Over many months our fraud team has worked with the police to build cases and push for prosecutions against anyone who sought to take advantage of last year's terrible tragedy.
"On this occasion it was one of our own members of staff who managed to defraud the council by getting past our own systems and processes. This is both shocking and unforgivable.
"We discovered the fraud and took action straight away, including strengthening our internal processes. We apologise to the survivors and families for any distress this may cause."
Seventy-two people died as a result of the fire on June 14 last year.