Ex-chairman of Derbyshire County Council Robin Baldry fiddled £2,463 in expenses
A FORMER chairman of Derbyshire County Council has admitted stealing thousands of pounds from the authority.
Councillor Robin Baldry yesterday entered guilty pleas to two charges of theft and will be sentenced next week.
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Robin Baldry yesterday
The 70-year-old admitted theft of £863 subsistence allowances, as well as up to £1,600 in false mileage claims. The offences were committed between May 1, 2005, and October 30, 2010.
Baldry was on crutches as he appeared at Derby Crown Court for the 15-minute hearing. Peter Pimm, for him, told the court: "He is 70 and in poor health."
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He suggested the sentence could be "dealt with by a financial penalty".
Justin Wigoder, prosecuting, said there would be an application from the council for compensation as well as costs in bringing the case to court.
Judge John Burgess told Baldry, who was elected to the council in May 2005 as a Conservative, to see a probation officer, who will compile a report for when he is sentenced next week.
The judge revealed he would consider all the sentencing options.
He said: "I would like to know a bit more about him, most of which Mr Pimm, I suspect, will be able to tell me.
"I would like to know an alternative to a custodial sentence.
"I suspect unpaid work is not realistic given his health and age. It may well be there is some other course like a curfew which may be an appropriate part of a suspended sentence, for example."
Baldry, of Terrace Road, Buxton, was given bail to return to court to be sentenced on Tuesday.
The prosecution decided not to continue proceedings against Baldry in relation to a third charge.
After the hearing, a spokesman for Derbyshire County Council confirmed the authority was seeking a "suitable level of compensation in respect of the offences".
He said: "We expect the highest levels of integrity from all our employees and elected members.
"Where we do suspect wrong-doing we will investigate and take appropriate action. This case followed an internal audit investigation, the results of which we handed to the police."
Whether or not Baldry loses his seat at Derbyshire County Council depends on what sentence he receives.
Under the terms of section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972, he could be disqualified from the authority if he is given a jail term exceeding three months, without the option of a fine. It would have no relevance if the jail term were to be suspended.
Baldry, who represents Buxton West division, was the authority's public face from June 2009 to April 2011.
Shortly after his tenure as council chairman came to an end, Derbyshire police began an investigation into his expenses claims after a routine review by the council's internal auditors found "irregularities".
In February, Baldry was formally charged with three charges of theft. He was immediately suspended from the Conservative group in Derbyshire .
It led to a new Independent political group being set up at the council by Baldry and Councillor David Stone, who quit the Liberal Democrats to become an independent.
It was expected Baldry would enter a plea at a Derby Crown Court hearing in April, though lawyers then asked for more time to continue their "complex" investigations.
Baldry made further court appearances in May, July and October – but on each occasion lawyers said they needed more time to put together their case.
Comments
by kessie2012
Saturday, December 08 2012, 10:41AM
“his first name is right he ought to change his second to b.....d /sherwood forest is not far away”
by janine2011
Saturday, December 08 2012, 10:34AM
“Makes you wonder how much he got away with during his years on the council, and how many are still fiddling their expenses. I would like to see all councillors expenses overseen by an ordinary member of the public, they wouldn't be able to steal then.”
by dtectvan
Saturday, December 08 2012, 10:00AM
“I'm going to try and interview this guy outside the court on Tuesday. See what he has to say for himself.”
by coralsea
Friday, December 07 2012, 8:25PM
“No wonder the councils are in debt and having to add extra' money on to the taxpayer to pay for Brown bins and other council service's, because of thieving scums like this moron”
by Movg4wdintheQ
Friday, December 07 2012, 6:00PM
“When you collect the money, please put it into the WildDerby fund to replenish the meagre £60,000 you're determined to cut, Mr. Bayliss & co.
I don't care what colour this councillor's politics are/were, there'll be another b*****r to match elsewhere, red, blue, green, orange, skybluepink with spots on; it's like a card game of pairs.
I'm sorry he's on crutches, but more importantly, are they recyclable? Councillors generally are.
Grrrr.”
by make_redgreen
Friday, December 07 2012, 3:13PM
“I'm still going to have to disagree - he'd fear jail time and that's something worth paying for such a crook. A fine for him, I would assume (and I know it's bad to assume, I don't know his finances but lets have an educated guess they're pretty healthy) would be akin to a premiership footballer getting a fine. Hardly taxing!
Though I disagree with with you both, I do agree that it will be the outcome, his mates in the court will make sure he's not inconvenienced.”
by peterknight
Friday, December 07 2012, 2:04PM
“Sadly, make red_green, as much as I would like to agree with you, we both know he can't be made to pay for his own keep. (He would probably try and put in an expense claim if he were!) I have to agree with spondon on this one.”
by make_redgreen
Friday, December 07 2012, 12:28PM
“I don't beleive a custodial sentence would serve any useful purpose and it would cost the taxpayer even more for no great purpose.
Disagree. Fine him and chuck him in clink, he can pay for his own keep.”
by spondon
Friday, December 07 2012, 9:57AM
“Sadly this case is another example of the arrogance of individuals and the abuse of office. I imagine this case is the tip of his particular iceburg and the 3rd, dropped charge, would have revealed even more abuse. The most signicant part I believe is the fact that this went on for 5 years and has been denied by Mr Baldry for so long. He does also retain his seat and the right to claim an allowance and expenses from the authority. For such a seemingly distinguished and hard working man to resort to fiddling the petty cash (figure of speech) is a sad reflection on the way high office can sometimes corupt.
I don't beleive a custodial sentence would serve any useful purpose and it would cost the taxpayer even more for no great purpose. There can be only one reasonable outcome, a heavy fine, repayment of the stolen amount, court costs, a suitable community order and above all a public apology to the electorate and his immediate resignation.”
by Georgiesmum
Friday, December 07 2012, 9:30AM
“Well I never, a dishonest politician. I'm stunned!!!!!!”