Jared Cain O'Mara was born on 15 November 1981 and is a British convicted fraudster and former politician who was Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam from 2017 to 2019.
57 Facts About Jared O'Mara
2.
In October 2017, it was revealed that Jared O'Mara had posted misogynistic, racist and homophobic online comments before he became an MP.
3.
Jared O'Mara resigned from the Women and Equalities Select Committee, and was suspended from the Labour Party.
4.
Jared O'Mara has cerebral palsy and hemiparesis, and later stated that he was the first autistic MP in history.
5.
Jared O'Mara took lengthy periods of time off for mental health issues, and never asked an oral question in his two-year parliamentary career.
6.
Jared O'Mara missed key Brexit votes in the House of Commons, and showed what was described by an aide as "vile, inexcusable contempt" for constituents who called for his resignation.
7.
Jared O'Mara's office was raided by police, and he was arrested but released without charge.
8.
Jared O'Mara stood down at the December 2019 general election.
9.
In February 2023, Jared O'Mara was found guilty of six counts of fraud by false representation, and was sentenced to four years in prison.
10.
Jared O'Mara was educated at Tapton School, in the city's Crosspool suburb, and graduated from Staffordshire University with a first class honours degree in journalism.
11.
Jared O'Mara supported Jeremy Corbyn's election as Leader of the Labour Party in 2015 and 2016.
12.
At the 2017 general election, Jared O'Mara was selected for the constituency of Sheffield Hallam in an emergency selection process for the snap election under the control of the National Executive Committee and regional boards, rather than by the local constituency party.
13.
Jared O'Mara's campaign focused on disabled people's rights, protecting public services and on his personal background in Sheffield.
14.
Jared O'Mara's campaign benefited from a national surge in the Labour vote and from university students in the constituency.
15.
Jared O'Mara won the seat with a majority of 2,125 votes, overturning Clegg's previous majority of 2,353 votes.
16.
The result was considered one of the most important seat changes of the night; Jared O'Mara had not expected to win the seat.
17.
Jared O'Mara asked his first Parliamentary written question in October 2017.
18.
Jared O'Mara never asked an oral question in the House of Commons.
19.
Jared O'Mara became a member of the Women and Equalities Select Committee in September 2017.
20.
Jared O'Mara apologised "if his comments caused offence" and resigned from the Women and Equalities Select Committee.
21.
Jared O'Mara has stated that he has cerebral palsy and hemiparesis.
22.
Jared O'Mara claimed in July 2018, after resigning his membership of the Labour Party, that he is on the autism spectrum and believed that he was the first autistic MP in history.
23.
In June 2017, Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow allowed MPs not to wear ties in the House of Commons, a decision welcomed by Jared O'Mara, who stated that cerebral palsy made it difficult for him to knot and wear a tie.
24.
Jared O'Mara said he would not have run for election had he known these difficulties before becoming an MP.
25.
Jared O'Mara supported a zero-tolerance policy on shouting and heckling, saying that he could not attend Prime Minister's Questions because of his anxiety triggered by aggression in the chamber.
26.
Jared O'Mara supported exempting members from interventions during speeches, introducing proxy voting and allowing MPs to make speeches to the House of Commons via online video-stream.
27.
In December 2017, a press statement explained Jared O'Mara would be on leave of absence on the advice of his general practitioner, who had discouraged him from attending Parliament, although Jared O'Mara would continue to deal with his constituent casework.
28.
On 18 July 2018, Jared O'Mara announced he would step back from his parliamentary duties on the advice of his GP.
29.
In March 2019, Jared O'Mara was absent for another series of key Brexit votes, having had an injury in the shower.
30.
On 3 July 2018, it was announced that Jared O'Mara would be readmitted to the Labour Party, following a review by its National Executive Committee disputes panel.
31.
Jared O'Mara restated his apology and asked for forgiveness from his constituents and the country.
32.
Jared O'Mara refused to call a by-election and promised to make his maiden speech in July 2018.
33.
Jared O'Mara made his maiden speech on 24 July 2018, the day before the start of the summer recess.
34.
Jared O'Mara was the 84th and final MP of the 2017 intake to make a maiden speech; the 83rd, David Duguid, spoke in November 2017.
35.
On 12 July 2018, Jared O'Mara announced his resignation from the Labour Party.
36.
In October 2018, Jared O'Mara said the Labour Party had only made one adjustment for him, namely moving his office closer to the Commons chamber.
37.
Jared O'Mara's mother wrote to the court in June 2019 to say that her son was "destitute and penniless".
38.
On 24 April 2019, Jared O'Mara suspended constituent casework for a month, pending the move to a new constituency office and recruitment of new staff to replace the loss of his original team.
39.
Arnold and Jared O'Mara first met when Jared O'Mara was managing the West Street Live bar, before his election.
40.
On 25 July 2019, Jared O'Mara released a public statement, apologising "to everybody for everything".
41.
In October 2019, one of Jared O'Mara's constituents made a formal complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, alleging Jared O'Mara had failed to act in the public interest and had used public money for his own benefit, and calling for a full investigation into his affairs.
42.
In July 2019, Jared O'Mara said he would stand for re-election at the next general election, but later said he would stand down from the House of Commons after the 2019 parliamentary summer recess.
43.
Jared O'Mara voted for the "Letwin amendment" and against the government during the special sitting of Parliament on 19 October 2019.
44.
Jared O'Mara was succeeded as MP for Sheffield Hallam by Olivia Blake, the Labour Party candidate.
45.
On 19 August 2021, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that Jared O'Mara had been charged with seven counts of fraud by false representation.
46.
On 24 September 2021, Jared O'Mara pleaded not guilty to those counts and an additional charge under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
47.
The court was shown messages between Arnold and Jared O'Mara referencing Jared O'Mara "do[ing] cocaine instead of going to Parliament".
48.
Additionally, Jared O'Mara was accused of submitting to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority two invoices from Arnold for work he never completed.
49.
Jared O'Mara said that he protested to O'Mara when the MP approved contracts without prior vetting from the parliamentary authorities.
50.
Arnold said that the work he provided Jared O'Mara was genuine, and that he would offer Jared O'Mara media training by roleplaying as Jeremy Paxman.
51.
Jared O'Mara's second invoice was a "retainer" so that O'Mara could call him at any time.
52.
Jared O'Mara said that he decided to resign after suspecting that O'Mara had drunk a litre of vodka before a BBC Look North interview that Arnold had arranged.
53.
Jared O'Mara accused O'Mara of smoking sixty cigarettes a day at one stage.
54.
Arnold told the court that Jared O'Mara had submitted subject access requests to the Labour Party and Unite the Union, with a view to suing them under data protection law.
55.
Jared O'Mara's defence said that he failed to follow the correct processes because of administrative ignorance.
56.
On 8 February 2023, Jared O'Mara was found guilty of six counts of fraud, and not guilty of two counts.
57.
On 9 February 2023, Jared O'Mara was sentenced to four years' imprisonment.