Head teacher ‘used school funds to pay for New York hotel and a laptop gift’

 A head teacher spent thousands of pounds of school funds on a Christmas gift for her partner and a stay at a New York hotel, a court has heard.

Melanie Rose, 46, head of the Ben Jonson Primary School in Mile End, east London, used the school account to fund lavish restaurant meals, trips, taxi rides and gifts for over three years, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.

Ms Rose, from Loughton, Essex, denies three charges of fraud relating to fraudulent expenses claims, and buying a computer for her own use with the school’s credit card.

Kevin Walls, prosecuting, said Ms Rose bought an Apple laptop that cost more than £2,000 in 2011, but it was never used on school premises. After being confronted by governors, she claimed it had broken after she spilt tea on it, but when the police searched her home they found the laptop to be working fine. Ms Rose then admitted that she had bought it as a Christmas gift for her partner, Colin Payne.

Among other expenditures Ms Rose allegedly claimed back from school funds was more than £1,000 for a stay at the four-star Ace Hotel, New York.

Mr Walls told the jurors: “Liberally peppered throughout her time in charge were regular incidences of going over the spending restrictions and dishonestly claiming expenses she knew she was not entitled to.”

The trial continues.