Council worker admits stealing £60,000 meant for Grenfell survivors

A finance manager for Kensington and Chelsea Council has admitted defrauding around £60,000 from the Grenfell Tower victim fund.

Jenny McDonagh used pre-paid credit cards meant for survivors of the tragedy to withdraw a total of £62,000 over a 10-month period.

She spent the funds on trips to Dubai and Los Angeles, expensive dinners and online gambling.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to two offences of fraud, one of theft and another of concealing criminal property at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday.

McDonagh, from Abbey Wood, south-east London, was first arrested on August 1 and used the stolen cards again two days later.

Prosecutor Robert Simpson described her as a “serial fraudster” who “lives behind her means and gambles”.

He said she used the stolen funds for a “trip to Dubai, Los Angeles, meals in expensive restaurants, hair appointments and personal luxuries for herself”.

He added: “She spent quite a lot of money on online gambling. She spent £32,000 of which £16,000 was winnings and lost roughly £16,000 in online gambling.”

Mr Simpson said McDonagh is married, but that her husband “does not want her to return to the matrimonial home”.

McDonagh appeared in the dock wearing a large green coat and showed no emotion as the details of her offending were relayed to the court.

Seventy-two people died as a result of the fire on June 14 last year.