Jared O'Mara: Fraud-accused MP non-existent in office, jury told

A erstwhile MP accused of fraud was "non-existent" successful his constituency bureau and attended a unit gathering "on immoderate benignant of substance", a tribunal has heard.

Jared O'Mara, 41, who represented Sheffield Hallam from 2017-2019, is accused of making fraudulent expenses claims totalling astir £30,000.

A erstwhile lawsuit idiosyncratic connected his squad besides claimed Mr O'Mara utilized a "range of excuses" to debar attending Parliament, including "slipping successful the shower".

Mr O'Mara denies 8 counts of fraud.

The erstwhile MP, of Walker Close, Sheffield, was elected to Parliament for Labour successful June 2017 but discontinue the enactment the pursuing twelvemonth and became an independent.

He stood down successful 2019, the aforesaid twelvemonth it is alleged the fraud offences took place.

Leeds Crown Court heard Kevin Gregory-Coyne worked astatine Mr O'Mara's constituency bureau betwixt November 2018 and April 2019 but lone saw his brag successful the gathering "once oregon twice".

He recalled an juncture Mr O'Mara did be the constituency office, astatine the Redlands Business Centre, successful Sheffield, for a gathering with unit connected 12 February 2019.

"He did crook up, astir an hr late," helium told the court..

"He appeared to beryllium connected immoderate benignant of substance, helium was gurning, clenching his teeth, sweating and talking astatine a cardinal miles an hour."

He said his leader told unit helium wished to marque code videos to station connected an online fee-paying subscriber platform, on with "comedy routines".

"He fancied himself arsenic a spot of a comedian", helium said.

Mr Gregory-Coyne said erstwhile 1 subordinate of unit challenged the proposition Mr O'Mara "threatened to sack him".

The assemblage heard aggregate members of Mr O'Mara's unit near their jobs to enactment for different employers soon aft the meeting.

On the occasions Mr Gregory-Coyne was tasked with escorting the MP to Parliament helium told the tribunal Mr O'Mara would sometimes substance him astatine abbreviated announcement to accidental "I'm not coming".

"There were a scope of what I saw arsenic excuses," helium told the jury.

"He said he'd slipped successful the ablution a mates of times and wouldn't beryllium capable to attend."

Mr Gregory-Coyne said helium contacted Nic Dakin successful the Labour whips' bureau successful March 2019 aft becoming acrophobic Mr O'Mara was not going to be a Parliament Brexit vote, citing the information that the MP was "suffering a intelligence wellness crisis".

The witnesser aboriginal told the tribunal his brag confronted him connected 16 April 2019 aft helium warned Mr O'Mara caller employees were being "signed up to contracts earlier they'd been vetted".

"He was alternatively angry, told maine not to question his authorization again, shouted astatine me, swore astatine me," helium said.

Prosecutors person previously told the court Mr O'Mara and co-defendant Gareth Arnold "submitted a bid of invoices for outgo that were false" successful 2019.

He is besides said to person submitted a mendacious declaration of employment for his friend, John Woodliff, claiming helium worked for him arsenic a constituency enactment officer.

Mr Arnold, 30, of School Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire, denies six charges of fraud.

Mr Woodliff, 43, of Hesley Road, Shiregreen, denies 1 complaint of fraud.