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Cheshire baby vote scam explained – in court

The Baby of the Year contest at the Chester Chronicle received more attention than usual – when one doting mum spent £670 on phone calls to vote for her toddler.

The competition in her local paper meant so much to Lynette Shaw, of Saltney, that she made an estimated 1,000 calls to swing the voting.

But she used the phone at an office where she worked as an evening cleaner and ended up in court.

The company bosses found their bill was £670 more than usual, and Shaw (25), admitted fraudulent use of the telephone system at Flintshire Magistrates Court.

She told the court she’d simply wanted her daughter to win so she could get a professional portrait done.

Framed portraits of the winner and runners-up were among the prizes up for grabs.

Her solicitor told the court that the case was more breach of trust than personal gain, and that each call she made created evidence against her.

Despite her efforts she still only managed to successfully cast a handful of votes.

She was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay the money back.

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