‘Fraud’ head is cleared

A HEADTEACHER accused of raiding school cash to pay for a New York trip, a laptop and meals out has been cleared of fraud.

Melanie Rose, 46, was said to have claimed for a £2,388 Apple laptop as a gift for her partner and £1,077 on a Manhattan hotel.

She was also charged with fraudulently claiming thousands for staff parties at restaurants, Tesco groceries and a taxi fare.

Kevin Walls, prosecuting, said her time at the helm was “liberally peppered” with fraudulent petty cash claims.

Rose denied the charges and was acquitted by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court, north-east London.

Harry Bentley, defending, said all the expenses were school related.

Rose, of Loughton, Essex, said she rewarded staff by taking them for meals to maintain good morale.

She told jurors she had intended to pay the laptop money back but forgot.

The former head at Ben Jonson Primary in Mile End, east London, accused the school finance boss of being incompetent.