Former MP Jared OMara gurned and clenched teeth at staff meeting, court hears

A former Labour MP held a constituency staff meeting where he was gurning, grinding his teeth and talking a million miles an hour, a court has heard.

Jared OMara appeared to be on some sort of substance, said Kevin Gregory-Coyne, a former caseworker for the MP.

OMara, who defeated the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg to take Sheffield Hallam at the 2017 election, is on trial at Leeds crown court accused of eight counts of fraud. Prosectors say the 41-year-old filed fraudulent expenses amounting to 30,000 to help fund a significant cocaine habit.

On Wednesday, Gregory-Coyne, who was for six months a caseworker in OMaras constituency, said he could only recall the MP ever going into the office once or twice.

In February 2019, OMara did attend a meeting, albeit an hour late.

He appeared to be on some sort of substance, said Gregory-Coyne. He was gurning, he was clenching his teeth, he was sweating and talking a million miles an hour. I do remember saying to my colleagues at the time, I think hes on something.