School cash collector took money for herself

Kellie Holroyd was employed at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School in Beeston, Leeds, when a spot check in December 2009 revealed a discrepancy in the money banked compared with the official record she kept.

When asked for an explanation she said she could not talk at the time because someone was waiting for her but would explain the next day. She then went sick and failed to return, Simon Batiste prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

Further discrepancies during that autumn term were then found and an audit showed a £1,840.46 shortfall compared with the amounts handed in on class registers.

Mr Batiste said Holroyd had been employed as a dinner money collector in October 2008 and had received training. Teachers received the money from pupils and it was then put it in an envelope with a register in the office for her to mark the amounts paid and complete the paying-in voucher.

Once the figures tallied the money was kept in a safe until it was banked. When asked by police about the shortfall Holroyd said she must have got confused and got figures wrong and denied taking any cash.

Nicholas de la Poer, for Holroyd, said she was a single mother who at the time was having problems and in debt. She could only say she was in “a different mental place” and was appalled by her behaviour.

Holroyd, 32, of Barkly Place, Beeston, Leeds, admitted fraud and was ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £400 compensation.