'GENUINE MISTAKE'
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh admits to being convicted fraudster after telling cops her phone had been stolen
She pleaded guilty to an offence following the mistake
TRANSPORT Secretary Louise Haigh has admitted to being a convicted fraudster after telling cops her phone was stolen, a report claims.
The Labour cabinet minister says she was mugged during a "terrifying" night out in 2013 and gave police a list of all the items missing from her handbag.
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She included in that list her work mobile, but discovered "some time later" it had not been taken.
Haigh told Sky News that she regrets the mistake and she pleaded guilty to an offence in connection with misleading the police.
The Guardian reports Haigh was given a conditional discharge for fraud by misrepresentation.
She said that she was called into speak to police when the work phone was switched on.
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In a statement she said: "My solicitor advised me not to comment during that interview and I regret following that advice.
"The police referred the matter to the CPS and I appeared before Southwark magistrates.
"Under the advice of my solicitor I pleaded guilty - despite the fact this was a genuine mistake from which I did not make any gain."
Sky News cites sources saying that Haigh made the false report to benefit personally and get a newer phone from the company.
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Two sources claimed she then lost her job over the incident.
Haigh, at the time, worked as a public policy manager at insurance company Aviva.
She worked at the company between 2012 and 2015, after which she was elected MP for Sheffield Heeley.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh admits to being convicted fraudster after telling cops her phone had been stolen
Haigh appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court six months before the 2015 general election where she was elected to parliament.
In her statement, Haigh claimed the Court gave her the lowest possible outcome available, a discharge.
Her conviction is now considered "spent".
She declared the conviction to Sir Keir Starmer in 2020 after he appointed her Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.
Tory Chairman Nigel Huddleston slammed the Prime Minsiter for appointing a convicted fraud to his Cabinet.
He said: “These are extremely concerning revelations about the person responsible for managing £30bn of taxpayers' money.
“Keir Starmer has serious questions to answer regarding what he knew and when about the person he appointed as Transport Secretary admitting to having misled the police.”
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A spokeswoman for Aviva said it was not commenting.
Louise Haigh has been approached for comment.
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