MasterChef contestant on Thursday night's show pleaded guilty to fraud

James Hywel Thomas is one of seven budding cooks in the latest episode
MasterChef: James Hywel Thomas, far left, has pleased guilty to fraud
BBC/Shine TV Ltd
Natasha Sporn1 March 2018

A contestant on Thursday night’s MasterChef has pleaded guilty to fraud charges.

According to the Daily Post, James Hywel Thomas admitted three counts of fraud running to more than £65,000 by failing to provide tickets to sporting events that didn’t exist.

Thomas also admitted abusing his position to obtain a Mercedes, forging signatures and credit card fraud of £800 after claiming he was permitted to use a woman’s cards.

The budding cook is due to be sentenced on Friday morning, 2 March for the offences that took place between February 2015 and June 2017.

Thomas, the former boss of a rugby side North Wales Crusaders, appeared alongside six other cooks in his heat on the popular BBC cooking contest.

Judge Peter Heywood adjourned sentencing for a pre-sentence report and Thomas was granted bail until the sentencing.

A spokesperson for Plank PR, who handle the show’s publicity, told the publication: “Yes, Jamie will be in the programme.

“We do background checks on everyone. There was no cause for concern in any of those checks. This wasn’t an issue.”

But they confirmed that filming was “some time ago” and that the fraud had since been brought to their attention.

MasterChef continues Thursday at 8pm on BBC One.

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