School secretary Margaret Bailey stole £89,000 from Endon Hall Primary
THIEVING secretary Margaret Bailey has been jailed after stealing up to £89,000 from the primary school where she worked to fund her bid to be a property tycoon.
The trusted 51-year-old swindled the cash over six years after rising from dinner lady to running the school's accounts.
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Margeret Bailey stole school funds
The money was set aside to fund school trips, school meals, charity events and even a Christmas party at Endon Hall Primary School, in Endon.
But Bailey was arrested and forced to resign after an investigation found she had used the cash to put deposits on a house in the U.S., a holiday home in Bulgaria, and several properties in the UK.
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She gave some of the money to members of her family.
Now Bailey, of Hilltop Cottage, Brown Edge, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting four charges of theft, two of fraud and one of false accounting. Headteacher Vicki Lewis today condemned Bailey.
She said: "The school has been absolutely shattered by this betrayal of trust. Margaret not only abused her position of trust, but also ruthlessly deprived pupils of the money raised by hard-working parents."
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Bailey's scam began in 2005 shortly after she was promoted to office support manager.
The position gave Bailey access to various school accounts, including money belonging to Endon Hall's Parent Teacher Association, and Staffordshire County Council.
Bailey repeatedly wrote out cheques to herself and members of her family, before swapping money around the accounts in an attempt to cover her tracks.
But she was caught and arrested last December after irregularities were spotted.
The court heard Bailey stole between £63,000 and £89,000 – although audits have been unable to determine the exact figure.
Fiona Cortese, prosecuting, said: "She said that everything was true and she was glad that it was all out in the open as it had been making her ill.
"She said she had bills to pay at home and it had just snowballed."
Bailey's defence barrister Jason Holt said she had 'lost everything'.
He added: "Her children don't want to know her. She's lost her husband. They are separated and planning to divorce. She is left at 51 with no-one and has only herself to blame."
Jailing Bailey, Judge Granville Styler told her: "The consequences of your dishonesty have been devastating for you.
"You've lost your job and family, and suffered humiliation in the community.
"But that humiliation is richly deserved."
Comments
by voltaire1
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 7:09PM
“DONT SEND HER TO JAIL.
WHY SHOULD I PAY TO KEEP HER IN JAIL.
CONFISCATE HER HOME AND CARS AND OTHER POSSESSIONS.”
by britpark
Friday, November 09 2012, 10:01AM
“ripleydad...not always the case!!
Look at Trentham High School in the 90's. As you put it, the classic socio economic demographic intake, but a poor head, unruly, abusive pupils, alleged drug taking. A failed Ofsted report and put into special measures. Then Sue Chesterton takes over as head and the school was rapidly turned around and regained it's former excellant repution, passing it's ofsted report with flying colours.”
by ripleydad
Friday, November 09 2012, 1:35AM
“Endon hall is an average school with a very nice catchment area and wealthier than the local average parents ,and as we know ,school performance is directly proportional to the socio ecanomic demographic of the intake . Its got ****** all to do with the staff .”
by ripleydad
Friday, November 09 2012, 1:31AM
“unlucky”
by moneypenny
Thursday, November 08 2012, 9:51PM
“I would also like to add what a fabulous school Endon Hall is and how the staff have continued to provide the best for our children throughout this difficult time and will continue to do so. Miss Lewis is an excellent Head Teacher and has a fabulous team behind her, well done to you all!!”
by Chippy
Thursday, November 08 2012, 8:23PM
“Can't believe it's only £89,000! If she went to so much trouble to deceive and cover her crime, she must have helped herself to the easy cash!!! Eg school discos, charity events, school fairs etc etc etc!!!!!
I understand that despite this woman's unforgivable actions, Endon Hall is a very successful school with a dedicated team of staff that are led by an outstanding Headteacher!!!!
Seems to me that the place is better off without her!”
by muzzer57
Thursday, November 08 2012, 5:43PM
“Did her husband and children not query where the money to buy all the properties was coming from?
An office managers salary is not that good.”
by moneypenny
Thursday, November 08 2012, 5:29PM
“Hang your head in shame!!!
You deserve every day of that sentence and if i was the Judge i would of thrown the key away stealing from a school and taking off hard working parents is disgusting!
Thank god for Miss Lewis because if it wasn't for her you would still be doing it now!”
by cornwall11
Thursday, November 08 2012, 4:05PM
“What a twit.”
by lanternhead
Thursday, November 08 2012, 3:12PM
“they're all at it, all wannabe someone or something they're not or ever likely to be, what a life to be that dissatisfied with your lot that you commit fraud and off kids as well, to better yourself? well she wont do it from where she is now.”