Chelsea FC employee admits £200,000 club fraud

Aerial image of Stamford Bridge Stadium.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Claire Walsh defrauded the football club between June 2019 and October 2023

  • Published

A Chelsea FC employee has admitted abusing her position to defraud the club out of more than £200,000.

Claire Walsh, 39, who worked as an assistant treasury manager at the Premier League football club, admitted dishonestly abusing her position to obtain £208,521.65 for herself.

She pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday to a charge of fraud by abuse of position between 8 June 2019 and 23 October 2023.

Asked what plea she would enter, Walsh, of Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea, said "guilty". She will be sentenced at a later date at Isleworth Crown Court.

Magistrate Kieran O'Donnell told her: "You've pleaded guilty to the offence and it exceeds our powers in terms of sentencing.

"You'll need to be sent to a crown court for sentencing, where they have the appropriate powers."

Walsh was released on unconditional bail.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external

Related topics

Related internet links