Former Chelsea employee who created false refunds on tickets spared jail over £200,000 fraud
A former Chelsea employee has been spared prison for defrauding the Premier League club of more than £200,000.
Claire Walsh, 39, assistant director of the treasury, admitted dishonestly abusing her position to illegally obtain £208,521.65 for herself between June 8, 2019, and October 23, 2023.
Isleworth Crown Court sentenced him on Friday to a two-year prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
The court heard that Walsh took advantage of the club’s season ticket exchange system, which allows holders who are unable to attend home matches at Stamford Bridge to resell their tickets to other members and season ticket holders.
Prosecutor Alex Alawode said Walsh, whose job it was to manage manual returns, “created fraudulent returns for tickets that were not placed on the exchange site”.
He added: “There were no tickets, the page was issuing refunds as if there were tickets.”
The prosecutor said the investigation identified “an unusually high number of manual refunds in the defendant’s name and to credit cards identified as belonging to the defendant.”
Sentencing Walsh, Chief Justice Fiona Barrie told the defendant: “This is clearly a breach of trust.
“You held a responsible and trusted position in the finance department and were trusted to handle large amounts of money, and you used that position to defraud your employer.”
The judge said it was “significant” that the crime “was motivated by a desire to help your struggling family”.
He added there were “strong personal mitigating factors” including Walsh’s lack of any previous convictions and “genuine remorse”.
Walsh, wearing a black top and coat, cried as the suspended sentence was read.
Mr Alawode said Walsh, who started working for Chelsea in 2007, told the club when asked about repayments that his “mother was terminally ill and he was in debt trying to provide for his family”.
The court heard that Walsh was told “he could face the club disciplinary process or resign immediately” and he decided to do the latter.
Joy Dykers, mitigating for Walsh, said the defendant told her there was “none” of the money left and “it was all spent”, adding that some of it continued to “support his family”.
Ms Dykers added: “There were so many gifts and experiences, trips to the theater and holidays for family and friends.”
Walsh was also sentenced to a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days and 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.
No expenses or compensation were claimed by Chelsea Football Club.
Walsh pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of power at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in November.
