A paedophile claimed more than £3,000 in expenses after quitting his job as an Assembly Member last July, it has emerged.

Simon Thomas, a former Plaid Cymru Ceredigion MP and AM for Mid and West Wales was convicted in October of possessing indecent images - but since July 2018 has received more than £3,000 in expenses from the Assembly.

Thomas, of Llwyn yr Eos, Penparcau, resigned from the Assembly with immediate effect in July after being arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images, and was handed a 26-week suspended jail sentence after admitting making more than 500 indecent photographs of children and more than 70 films.

After resigning, Assembly expense accounts reveal, he has continued to claim expenses from the Assembly.

Among other expenses he claimed £735 for rent on his second home, and £594 to have his office cleared out after his resignation.

His gas, electricity and water bills were paid on his second home, and he claimed mileage of £274.05.

His mobile phone bills were also paid in August and September.

Some of the expenses claims relate to costs incurred before he stood down.

Assembly rules, set by the independent remuneration board, state that a person who has ceased to be an AM “for whatever reason” is entitled to claim an allowance “in respect of the cost incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in completing any work that was in progress at the time that person ceased to be a member”.

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