London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 07, 2025

Giles McNeill: Ex-West Lindsey Council leader stole £30k to fund gambling habit

Giles McNeill: Ex-West Lindsey Council leader stole £30k to fund gambling habit

A former council leader who stole nearly £30,000 from Conservative Party coffers to fund his gambling addiction has been jailed for 14 months.

Giles McNeill, 40, cashed £20,000 of forged cheques and pocketed £9,365 in cash, including payments from members to attend a Boris Johnson speech.

Lincoln Crown Court heard McNeill stole the money over a six-year period between 2014 and 2020.

Judge John Pini QC described his conduct as "a gross breach of trust".

McNeill, who was leader of West Lindsey District Council from May 2019 to September 2020, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to charges of theft by an employee, fraud by abuse of position and forgery.

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said: "Over a period of six years between 2014 and 2020 he defrauded local Conservative associations and individual members out of almost £30,000."

The court heard McNeil forged 93 cheques in total, including 35 from the Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association (GCCA), and 25 from the West Lindsey District Council Constituency Conservative Association.

His actions only came to light when Tracey Coulson took over as treasurer at the GCCA in 2019.

In a victim impact statement Miss Coulson said McNeill's actions had caused huge reputational damage to the party.

'Fall from grace'


The court was told McNeill began gambling in 2013, with the situation becoming "acute" by 2016.

Hal Ewing, mitigating, said: "Rather than admit he was becoming overwhelmed his gambling addiction began to spiral out of control.

"In the end he was unable to deal with the demands placed on him."

Mr Ewing said references from fellow councillors, and MP Sir Edward Leigh, for whom he previously worked, made it clear "he was a hardworking and talented politician".

"He went into politics for the best of motives," he added.

Passing sentence Judge Pini QC told McNeill his "fall from grace had been steep".

"If the electorate cannot trust those elected then politics breaks down. Your conduct was a gross breach of trust over a number of years," he added.

McNeil, of The Chestnuts, Nettleham, near Lincoln, remained a sitting councillor for the Nettleham ward prior until his resignation last month.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
×