Accountant Nicked £245K From Catholic Private Schools

The accounts chief of a catholic educational trust, which runs four private London schools, avoided prison yesterday despite stealing nearly a quarter of a million pounds.

Chartered accountant Melanie Goodwin, 57, of Bath Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire even enjoyed a grace-and-favour apartment in a listed 18th century building overlooking Clapham Common. 

Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon QC told the dramatic arts fan: "There will be no going out to the theatre," when ordering her to wear an electronic tag to impose a six-month night-time curfew.

Deciding to impose a suspended prison sentence he added: "That was a hairline decision that would be seen by many that you have got away with a serious crime."

Mother-of-two Goodwin pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by abuse of position against PACT (Parents, Children & Teachers) on various dates between February 1, 2010 and August 29, 2014.

The sums in the individual charges are £28,632.21; £61,948.63; £66,843.38; £51,024.92 and £37,274.13.

"It was a substantial sum of money per year and they (PACT) talk of reputational damage," added the judge.

"It's such a sad case. The word 'betrayed' is used in the victim impact statement.

"There is a huge breach of trust here. Where did the money go? It was a huge amount to steal."

PACT runs £8,820 per-year Oakwood School, Purley; £13,800 per-year Oliver House Preparatory School, Clapham and Croydon's Cedars Secondary School and Balham's Laurels Secondary School, which both charge £12,630 per-year.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Hutchings said: "She had full access to PACT's internet bank accounts, the cheque writing and was responsible for the payroll and expenses."

She was exposed by an enquiry into a suspicious £378 expenses claim that was paid to an account called 'Premium' which was her unsuspecting husband's bank account.

Goodwin has repaid £60,000, plus her £15,000 redundancy pay-out and PACT have a £155,000 charge on the family home, which is up for sale.

The investigation by Detective Constable Kerry Wood of the Metropolitan Police's Complex Fraud Squad revealed Goodwin made 129 fraudulent payments to herself in four years.

Her lawyer, Mr. Jake Taylor, told the court: "It was spent on large credit card debts, not on an extravagant lifestyle. It was whittled away.

"She has sought to pay every penny back and has not filed for bankruptcy and has been making amends for her actions.

"She has remorse, regret, shame," he said of the first-time offender. "This is a huge betrayal.

"She is doing all she can to ensure harm to the PACT trust is minimised.

"She initially took a small amount and intended to pay it back and it spiralled. She just felt trapped."

Judge McKinnon told Goodwin, who could have been jailed for a maximum of ten years: "This was a systematic course of criminal offending when you were in a senior position at this charity.

"You were essentially he head of finance at that trust, responsible for all financial matters.

"You were trusted to employ those funds for legitimate purposes, instead what you did, week by week, was filter the money away for your own personal benefit."

After reading probation and psychiatric reports, plus references and letters from Goodwin's family the judge added: "I have been persuaded by this material and factors that relate to you and your family and other issues that justify me suspending your sentence."

Goodwin was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years and ordered to perform 300 hours community service work.

She must obey a six-month curfew between 9pm and 6am, pay £500 cost and a £100 victim surcharge.

PACT Chair of Governors Eleanor Leonard said: "There is a real sense of betrayal that remains eighteen months after we discovered she was stealing from the charity."