Council clerk admits £65k fraud

Sian Wyn Francis arrives in court at a previous hearing

A community council clerk from Gwynedd has pleaded guilty to 18 charges of false accounting worth £65,860.

Sian Wyn Francis committed the offences whilst working as the clerk to Criccieth, Llanbedrog, Llannor and Boduan community councils in Gwynedd.

Judge Merfyn Hughes QC told Francis, from Llanarmon near Pwllheli, she had committed the offences at a time she was in a "position of trust".

She was released on bail and will be sentenced on 9 March.

The judge at Warrington Crown Court asked her defence counsel if there was an explanation as to why she had committed the offences, which took place between 2002 and 2005.

He was told she had had personal financial difficulties.

The judge ordered a pre-sentence report and Francis will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court in March.

"You are in a very difficult position," he told her.

"You committed these offences whilst you were in a position of trust in the community.

"You will be released on bail but this does not mean anything in relation to your sentence."

Ms Francis has repaid £25,000 of the money.

Another 14 charges against her were ordered to lie on file.