Charlbury School Association - from the Witney Gazette
This week's Witney Gazette reports the following story.
"A treasurer stole more than £15,000 from a West Oxfordshire primary school's fundraisers to pay her household bills.
"Sally Dodman-Edwards, a mother of four, has been told she could be jailed, after magistrates were told she had abused her position as treasurer for Charlbury School Association, using blank cheques.
"The association is a charitable organisation that raises cash for the school, and Dodman-Edwards, 34, cleared out an entire year's takings.
"Gavin Hernandez, prosecuting, told Witney magistrates Dodman-Edwards collected money from fundraising events, raised and banked cheques, and kept the accounts. Last June, it was discovered a large sum was missing. She was asked to resign, and the police were called in.
"Mr Hernandez said it emerged over the course of a year Dodman-Edwards had taken more than £11,000 through making out blank cheques signed by the association chairman and secretary to herself, her husband, and her husband's business, Charlbury Brewing Company. In addition, almost £4,000 was taken from fundraising events.
"Mr Hernandez said: 'She had made out cheques for small amounts and not round figures and had entered them as items such as computer equipment so suspicion would not be raised.'
"Dodman-Edwards, of Woodlands, Ticknell Lane, Charlbury, was arrested in September. She admitted 16 charges of theft and one of forgery.
"Shirlsey Selby, defending, said Dodman-Edwards had used the money towards paying household bills, as the family had been in serious financial difficulties. She had now repaid all the money she took, with interest, and had co-operated fully with police throughout the investigation, expressing remorse for her actions. Dodman-Edwards had also been suffering from depression, Ms Selby added.
"The case was adjourned until next month for a pre-sentence report.
"In a statement, Charlbury School said it regretted the incident and condemned the dishonesty and breach of trust involved. It added: 'The school would like to take this opportunity to state publicly its ongoing and wholehearted support for the committee of the Charlbury School Association and its gratitude for the tireless work carried out by the committee to raise much-needed funds for the school."
Richard Fairhurst · Fri 20 Jan 2006, 18:42 · Link