Perth school treasurer stole £1,100.

A school’s parent teacher association treasurer who stole funds earmarked for pupils’ books has been ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community.

Lisa Sanderson, 38, stole money which had been raised by the primary school children through bake sales and a haggis drive.

The PTA treasurer stole more than £1,100 which had been raised to buy books and other equipment for the pupils.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis ordered her to carry out 100 hours’ community service and gave her four months to pay back the £1,186 she embezzled.

Perth Sheriff Court was told Sanderson started stealing money from the Craigie Primary School PTA almost as soon as she became treasurer.

She helped herself to £600 which she claimed was used as the float for stalls at the Perth school’s Christmas fair.

Sanderson also took £311.50 raised during an annual haggis drive and a further £274.50 the children had made by baking and selling cakes in the school.

Sanderson, of Friar Street, Perth, admitted embezzling the cash between December 1 2017 and May 31 last year.

I just regret what I’ve done. I got into a bit of difficulty and I’ve put the money aside now to pay it back. LISA SANDERSON

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told the court another member of the PTA became suspicious when she checked the account balance towards the end of the school year.

He said she discovered the money in the account was far below what she expected and Sanderson was called in to explain what was going on.

Sanderson turned up for a meeting but failed to bring paperwork to access the account properly.

She later declined to meet other PTA members.

Mr Kermode said: “The money had been raised by parents and pupils at the school through bake sales and fun runs etcetera. The money was used to buy extras for the pupils.

“The accused was treasurer from October 2017 to May 2018. Her notes stated the money had been paid into the bank account but there was no trace of it on the bank statements.

“They questioned the accused and she simply stated she would pay it back, that it had been on her watch, and that she no longer wished to be treasurer.”

Perth and Kinross Council auditors were called in and discovered Sanderson had been responsible for embezzling £1,186 in around six months.

Police were called in and when she was initially quizzed, Sanderson denied any wrongdoing.

She later gave a series of different excuses on Facebook.

She then sent a letter to the court admitting responsibility and blaming financial difficulties for resorting to stealing the children’s money.

Defending herself in court, she said: “I just regret what I’ve done. I got into a bit of difficulty and I’ve put the money aside now to pay it back.”