Dinner Money Gobbled By School Employee

A junior school administrator, who swiped over £4,000 in children’s' dinner money during a nine-month fraud to pay debts and fund her cannabis use, escaped prison with a suspended sentence yesterday.

Single-mum Samantha Winn, 41, was a trusted employee of six years at Torridon Junior School, Lewisham (pictured) until she was caught, sacked and then returned to her native Bristol.

Winn, of Rookery Way, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between May 6, 2011 and February 10, last year while employed as an administrative assistant.

Prosecutor Miss Jackie Walker told Bromley Magistrates' Court: “A referral was made to the council by the head of the school, who was told of discrepancies by the school's business manager in regard to dinner money going back a year.

“The thefts were carried out by making incorrect entries on the balance sheet to show less money was being collected.

“The shortfall was not immediately picked up because the summary sheet, completed by Mrs Winn, matched the amounts in cash that were passed on.”

Records showed Winn stole money when she was not under the direct supervision of her manager and a total of £4,478 was taken.

She was arrested on March 13, last year.

“She admitted taking the money and manipulating the summary sheet to cover the shortfall,” explained Miss Walker.

Her lawyer Mr. Derek Connor told the court: “Financial hardship was the motivation and she was eventually evicted from her home because she owed rent.”

The court also heard depressed Winn, who has a sixteen year-old son, was spending £20-
£30 per week on cannabis.

“The money literally went up in smoke with the amount off cannabis you were smoking,” District Judge roger Ede told the first-time offender.

“You were a trusted employee and were trusted to collect and account for the dinner money.

“No one would have guessed you were keeping it for yourself, because you had been there for so long.

“You obtained quite a significant sum of money and you breached the trust of your employer.”

Winn was sentenced to twelve weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, ordered to complete 100 hours community service and attend a compulsory fifteen-day women’s programme.

Jobless Winn was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to the London Borough of Lewisham at the rate of £5 per week.