‘Ruined’ deputy mayor admits credit card fraud

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Boris Johnson's former deputy mayor today pleaded guilty to fraud after using his City Hall credit card to entertain his girlfriend and another woman.

Ian Clement said he was “truly sorry” after admitting three charges of misusing public money. His lawyer said: “His life is ruined and he has to rebuild his life and get himself a job.”

Clement, 44, a former Bexley council leader appointed by Mr Johnson to the £127,000-a year post soon after he became Mayor last year, is expected to be sentenced this afternoon.

He is at risk of jail or a hefty fine after District Judge Timothy Workman called the offences a “blatant breach of trust for someone holding higher office”.

Mr Clement, whose 27-year political career is now over, publicly apologised to Mr Johnson outside Westminster Magistrates Court.

He said: “I have failed to live up to the high standards of office that were properly expected of me.

“I have given many years of dedicated public service to London which has been my pride, my passion and my life. That is now over. There is no denial in regards to my responsibility.

“I very much regret and indeed am truly sorry for my actions and that these have let down many good people, my family, my friends and colleagues including and not least, the Mayor of London.”

Suspicions were first raised about Clement's misuse of the credit card last November when he began sending cheques to City Hall to cover items of personal expenditure.

Despite a series of warnings, he continued to use the card for more than £2,300 of personal expenditure as he racked up total bills in excess of £7,000.

He claimed to have been dining with Tory council leaders when in fact he twice entertained his 23-year-old girlfriend Claire Dowson - who he left the mother of his son to be with - and once took PR assistant Joanna Laban to dinner. The meals cost a total of £156.70.

He was forced to resign in June after his lies were exposed when one council leader said he had been at a funeral in Scotland.

Mr Clement's lawyer, Jim Sturman, QC, said that Clement was “innately a good man”. He said: “His life is ruined and he has to rebuild it, but he accepts it is his fault, many of his friends has understandably deserted him.

“He is left without a job. He's not frightened of hard work and as a postman would sometimes work from 3am to 9 or 10 at night. He will now have to work hard at a rather menial job.

“He realises it's his fault and he brought it on himself. He let his friends down. He let his family down and he has let himself down.”

Michael Jennings, prosecuting, said that Mr Johnson's chief of staff Sir Simon Milton had warned Clement about his conduct. He said: “Mr Clement was told of the problems and was said to have produced a card cut up in small pieces, which he handed over.

He was described as being incredibly apologetic and said he had made a mistake. It is clear from the audit that Mr Clement had repeatedly breached the guidance for using the card, albeit he would subsequently produce cheques.”

Clement, of Crayford, admitted three charges of fraud by false representation. Two other charges were ordered to lie on the court file. Ms Dowson was not in court.

[DGP1]

He's not frightened of hard work and as a postman would sometimes work from 3am to 9 or 10 at night

Bollocks, that would be 18/19 hours per day and nobody could physically do that........................................unless he was a manager

[dvbuk55]

The nerve of the bast*rd, £127, 000 a year and he stills steals. Is it just me or is this sort of thing on the increase - the more money they get the more they think they're entitled to rip people off. He says he only used it three times ..................... more like three taken in to account. Benefit cheats are another set of robbers and liars.

[DGP1]

Now ladies, he's a catch

[dvbuk55]

I've just read the first line again "entertain his girlfriend and another woman" - now then, now then is there perhaps more to come in the News of the World.

[andy2007]

This bit made me laugh:
Mr Clement's lawyer, Jim Sturman, QC, said that Clement was “innately a good man”. He said: “His life is ruined and he has to rebuild it, but he accepts it is his fault, many of his friends has understandably deserted him.

An "innately good man", wouldn't steal!

And of course his friends deserted him. He was a rich man, who CHOSE to steal. It was pure greed!

[Darren Bent]

Stealing several grand is not worth it as he will lose more money on loss of earning by working in a lower pay job. So over the long run it is expensive mistake.

[andy2007]

He's probably been getting away with it for years, and they've only recently caught him. People rarely decide to change their morals over a short space of time. You're either honest, or not. There are of course exceptions (as with anything). For example: Someone who falls on hard times, might turn to crime, out of desperation. It certainly doesn't excuse it (many of us have hit very hard times, and stayed honest!), but can explain it. But he's a very rich man. So I fail to see how he could have suddenly become dishonest.