AN ex-Chelsea employee has pleaded guilty to stealing over £200,000 from the club after abusing her position working at the club.
Claire Walsh, 39, worked as an assistant treasury manager at the outfit.
A former Chelsea employee has pleaded guilty to defrauding the club of more than £200,000Credit: Getty
The employee worked at the club for more than 20 years and lives less than a mile from Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
Walsh, who lives less than a mile from the club’s stadium in Elm Park Gardens, worked for the Blues for more than 20 years and became the club’s full-time treasury assistant in July 2020, according to her .
However, during an appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday she entered a “guilty” plea to defrauding to obtain £208,521.65 for herself.
The charge brought against her, listed as “fraud by abuse of position”, relates to activity between 8 June 2019 and 23 October 2023.
Walsh, who was released on unconditional bail, is no longer employed by Chelsea according to The Telegraph .
She is set to be sentenced at a later date at Isleworth Crown Court.
During the short hearing on Friday, the prosecution said the amount of money involved meant the case exceeded their power to sentence.
Magistrate Kieran O’Donnell said: “You’ve pleaded guilty to the offence and it exceeds our powers in terms of sentencing.
“This will be at Isleworth Crown Court on a date not yet set.
“The probation service will contact you through your lawyer and it will be of benefit to you if you are open and honest with them.
“Until then you will be on unconditional bail.”
The case was in the “A” capability range under the Fraud Act 2006.
The charge against her can carry a maximum sentence of 10 years on conviction on indictment at the Crown Court, with a maximum 12-month sentence able to be handed out by Magistrates’ Court.
Addressing Walsh, the magistrate said: “You dishonestly abused that position intending thereby to make a gain, namely obtaining the sum of £208,521.65, for yourself contrary to sections 1 and 4 of the Fraud Act 2006.”
The starting point for an “A” level charge under the Fraud Act 2006 is five years, with the level of money involved typically ranging from three to six years.
SunSport have approached Chelsea for comment.
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