October 2, 2020 11.31 am This story is over 41 months old

Parish clerk stole £18k from Lincolnshire councils

64-year-old man pleaded guilty

A parish clerk has admitted stealing over £18,000 from five parish councils in Lincolnshire.

Paul Adrian Illingworth, 64, pleaded guilty to five charges of theft when he appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court by video link on Friday.

Illingworth, of the Old School, Church Lane, Scredington, near Sleaford, admitted the following charges:

  • Theft of £1,926.90 from Pointon and Sempringham Parish Council.
  • Theft of £12,138.03 from Ropsley and District Parish Council.
  • Theft of £2,130.90 from Helpringham Parish Council.
  • Theft of £2,490 from Carlton Scroop Parish Council.
  • Theft of £201 from Old Somerby Parish Council.

All the thefts happened between June 1, 2015 and June 30 this year.

District Judge Peter Veits committed the case to Lincoln Crown Court for sentence on a date to be fixed.

The judge told Illingworth: “Clearly this case is too serious to remain in this court.

“This is clearly fraud over a period of time from parish councils who trusted you with their accounts.”

Illingworth was granted bail until he is sentenced.