Welsh Assembly officials duped into paying woman £104k for cleaning services

A London Underground worker has admitted receiving £100,000 from the Welsh Assembly after officials were duped in to believing they were paying for its cleaning services.

The Welsh government made six payments to Tracey Baker, 44, between October 2013 and June 2014 believing her account was that of contractors Total Support Services, Croydon Crown Court heard.

Officials were tricked in to transferring the money to her account after receiving what turned out to be a false letter claiming that the business's bank details had changed.

In fact the new account belonged to Baker who pocketed a total of just under £104,000.

Baker, of Farnley Road, South Norwood, south-east London, pleaded guilty to acquiring criminal property.

But she denies writing the false letter to the Welsh Assembly.

The charge of fraud by false representation will lie on file, Judge Jeremy Gold said.

John-Paul Macnamara, defending, said his client was a wife and mother who had spent all of her life working for the London Underground.

Judge Gold said: "You've pleaded guilty to a very serious criminal offence and there's certainly no guarantee that you won't be going straight to custody."

The case was adjourned for sentencing next month.