A school charity committee treasurer who stole £10,000 raised by parents for Aintree Davenhill Primary School was spared jail.
Gillian Povey forged cheques and took cash she should have paid into the bank on behalf of the Friends of Davenhill.
The 47-year-old, of Altway in Old Roan, sobbed in the dock as Liverpool Crown Court heard how she abused a position of trust over three years.
Mike Stephenson, prosecuting, said Povey, who had a daughter at the school, became the committee’s treasurer in 2009.
She was a co-signatory on cheques with the group’s chairman, Carole Mitchell, who became concerned about her ability to cope with the job.
Povey assured her she was fine but the summer fair accounts for 2013 were “shambolic” and they agreed procedures for 2014.
Mr Stephenson said there was a delay in Povey handing over bank accounts, which led to Mrs Mitchell making a request for bank statements in June last year.
He said: “That made it clear the starting balance in excess of £4,000 was wrong. It was £2,000.”
The matter was reported to the school’s headmistress, who requested paperwork and chequebooks from Povey, which she initially withheld.
It was discovered that between September 2013 and June 2014 around £3,350 had gone missing.
Mr Stephenson said there was a lack of receipts for money paid out, including more than £500 to a DJ.
He said Povey admitted taking “at least” £10,000.
Nicholas Archer, defending, said Povey’s family had financial difficulties “of a day-to-day type” and she had asked for money from her parents.
However, he said that when their health deteriorated Povey felt unable to ask them for help again and her husband was off work ill.
Povey had no training for treasurer role
He said Povey had no training for the role of treasurer and felt under pressure and while she intended to repay the money at first, the debt grew and grew.
Mr Archer said: “She is devastated. She understands the impact on everybody, not only the school, the PTA, but her family as well.”
He added that she was a woman of previous “exemplary good character” and intended to pay back the £10,000 with a loan from her mother.
The judge, Recorder Anil Murray, said Povey abused a position of trust.
However, he said her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and her father with dementia and her husband had suffered a breakdown.
The judge said: “You didn’t seek help or receive help for any of these things. It seems that is when this offending started.
“The report says you’re ashamed and remorseful. So you should be. But I accept that remorse is genuine.”
Povey, who pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, received an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to repay £10,000.
She was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, 12 months’ supervision and a 20-day rehabilitation programme.
Povey thanked the judge as she left the dock.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/