Finance manager stole £30k from primary school
Cleveland PoliceA finance manager at a primary school who stole £30,000 in funds has been jailed.
Andrew Barber, 38, made cash withdrawals from the bank account of Whitehouse Primary School in Stockton-on-Tees between 2019 and 2023.
Cleveland Police said the money he stole could have been used to benefit the children, while headteacher Jane Eyre said the crimes had "shocked and had an impact on the school".
Barber was sentenced to a year in prison at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
The force said he used the school's bank account to purchase items online from websites such as Curry's and Amazon and had the deliveries sent to his home address in Kesteven Road, Hartlepool.
"Barber selfishly decided to steal the money to benefit himself and he deserves the sentence he has been given today," PC Jordan Atkinson said.
Cleveland Police said it worked with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Whitehouse Primary School and had "combed through hundreds of documents and a large quantity of exhibits".
Ms Eyre said the school was "pleased" about the sentence.
"While these crimes have shocked us and had an impact on the school, we're thankful that the dedication and ongoing commitment of the staff has ensured that our pupils have not been affected."
Stockton-on-Tees Borough councillor Clare Besford said: "As soon as these issues came to light the council immediately worked alongside the school to investigate, suspending the member of staff before reporting the matter to Cleveland Police."