Giles McNeill: Ex-West Lindsey council leader admits fraud charges at Lincoln Magistrates Court
Ex-West Lindsey Council Leader Giles Mcneill,39, who was arrested on fraud and forgery offences, has today (30th September 2021) pleaded guilty to those charges.
Former colleagues of the ex-Conservative council leader were shocked when he was arrested in September. Those who still thought he was innocent will be shocked even more after he admitted theft, fraud and forgery offences totalling more than £31,000.
Charges were read out Giles before magistrates in Lincoln. Those charges include theft by an employee, fraud by abuse of position and forgery between 2014 and 2020.
His offences include theft of £10,948 which belonged to the Conservative Party. His crime involved cashing cheques totalling £20,252.54.
Giles McNeill shocked the gallery after admitting forging signatures on 93 cheques. He also admitted to six charges of fraud by abuse of power as treasurer of West Lindsey District Council Conservatives, Gainsborough Conservative Club and Lincolnshire Area Conservative Party.
Over a six-year period, Giles McNeill of The Chestnuts, Nettleham tole £31,201.04.
The Ex-council leader was given unconditional bail. He is set to be sentenced at a later date at Lincoln Crown Court.
The disgraced former politician resigned as of the authority on 2 November 2020.
One West Lindsey employee who did not wished to be named believes that a full investigation needs to take place and an outside audit should be conducted on the finances of the council over a 20-year period. They believe this should take place to see if there are any other incidents that have taken place that have not come to light.