Newton-On-Trent school worker to pay back assets

Jacqueline McIntyre paid her household bills and credit card debts out of school funds for nearly a decade while working at Newton-on-Trent Primary School.

McIntyre, 40, of Machin Close, Tuxford, Notts, was jailed for two years in November 2011.

She admitted two charges of theft of £133,000 between March 2001 and January 2010. She also admitted fraudulently claiming £9,210.54 in overtime payments.

Judge Sean Morris ruled that McIntyre, who is still in custody serving her sentence, benefited from her crimes by £145,830.

He ordered that her available assets of £14,291 should be confiscated. £7,786 of the money will be paid to Lincolnshire County Council in compensation with the remaining £6,505 going to Newton-on-Trent Primary School.

An earlier hearing was told by Andrew Scott, prosecuting, that McIntyre used the head teacher’s log in details to set up direct payments from the 60-pupil school’s bank accounts to pay over £50,000 off her credit cards.

McIntyre even paid her council tax, her own mobile phone bills and her Sky TV subscription using school funds, as well as writing out cheques to herself for £20,000.

She paid £20,000 to herself and another £10,000 to her partner using blank cheques already signed by the head.

Mr Scott said: “The finances were in a dreadful state. Staff hours were cut and there was a redundancy. The head’s hours were reduced, one teacher was given reduced hours and a teaching assistant was made redundant. McIntyre’s dishonesty must have had an adverse effect on the situation.”

“This involves theft and fraud committed over a significant period of time by a person in a position of substantial trust. She was entrusted with the day to day responsibility of running the school funds.”

The fraud was eventually revealed during an audit check.

McIntyre was dismissed in July 2010 having made a full confession in writing to school governors.

“I am full of guilt for what I have done,” she said.

Roger Carne, defending, said: “She feels disgusted at what she has done and feels she has let everybody down.”