Council officer jailed for fraud

Francis worked for four community councils

A council clerk has been jailed for 15 months by a judge after admitting 18 counts of false accounting.

Sian Wyn Francis, 48, from Llanarmon near Pwllheli misappropriated £60,000 while working for four community councils in Gwynedd.

Chester Crown Court heard she had paid some of the money back.

Criccieth town council said after the case that it had faced making budget cuts after being left in a "difficult position".

Francis admitted 18 charges of false accounting worth £65,860 whilst working as a clerk to Criccieth, Llanbedrog, Llannor and Boduan community councils.

Financial implications

Criccieth Town Council's vice-chairman, Phil Jones, said the offences had left the council in a "difficult position".

The exact amount she had taken was still not known, he added.

"What has happened has left us in a difficult position," said Mr Jones.

"Criccieth Town Council gets a precept from Gwynedd county council.

I hope because we have been so careful with our budget the people of Criccieth will not have to suffer too much Phil Jones, Criccieth council vice-chairman

"We then spend the money in Criccieth on events such as the Criccieth in Bloom, Criccieth Festival and the Christmas lights, normal things a community council spends money on.

"Because of what has happened we have had to cut back a lot."

As soon as the offences came to light the police had removed documents for investigation which meant the council still did not know exactly what the financial implications were, he said.

Mr Jones said that traditionally council clerks were afforded a position of "trust" but councillors would be more careful in the future.

He added that he was hopeful that enough cutbacks had been made.

"I hope because we have been so careful with our budget the people of Criccieth will not have to suffer too much."