Nottingham pupils 'deprived of essential resources' after business manager stole £70,000 from school

-Credit: (Image: Reach Plc)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Plc)


A business manager at a Nottingham primary school, who abused her position to steal more than £70,000, has been sent to prison. Nottingham Crown Court heard how grandmother Wendy Gill’s criminal behaviour meant that pupils, including those with special needs, “were deprived of essential resources they needed”. The headteacher at Bramcote C of E Primary had to contemplate making redundancies because of the budget deficit Gill's actions created.

Jailing Gill, of Stanton Road, Ilkeston, for two years and one month, Recorder James Bide-Thomas said: “I have heard the victim impact statement made by the head teacher. She feels betrayed, everyone at Bramcote feels betrayed. It is a close-knit community, shown by the number of people who have come to court to watch your sentence. Your offending is made worse because these people all thought of you as a friend and they relied on you and trusted you."

Anthony Cheung, prosecuting, said 61-year-old Gill worked at the school, in Hanley Avenue, for more than a decade where she was seen as “a close friend” to staff, governors and was trusted with its finances. He said in June, 2022, a budget deficit of £6,000 was identified and an investigation began.

The prosecutor said: “Mrs Gill had transferred money from the school bank account to her own. In total, £70,581.51 was taken from the school by her. She resigned by email and in a police interview she would not divulge her reasons for the fraud.”

Sarah Meredith, head teacher at Bramcote C of E, read her own victim impact statement to the court, which was full with other staff members and governors. In it she said there were times when she had to contemplate redundancies due to the financial deficit which was discovered in June, 2022.

She said: “I always felt she was a team player and always ready to help (but) now I can’t stress enough the detrimental impact this has had on the school, the staff and myself.

“But the biggest impact this has had has been on the children. Because of Mrs Gill’s actions they have been deprived of essential support and money. Mrs Gill was a well-liked member of our team, she was trusted by everyone, we all believed the advice she gave had the interest of the children at heart.

“She was an extremely close friend, colleague and confidant. Now, due to her actions I feel totally deceived and that is a view shared by the staff and governors.”

Gill pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, over a six-year period, at an earlier hearing. Luc Chignell, defending, said his client “did some good” in the years she worked at the school. He said: “There really are no winners in this situation. She is 61 years old and is in a criminal court for the first time in her life. You can see the shame on her face.

“This is not a case of pure greed. The reason was she was in a relationship at the time with a man who took drugs and Mrs Gill felt under pressure to provide money for her partner.

“She does not need to go to prison, she will repay the money, she is in the process of selling her house. I ask for an alternative to custody.”