Vice principal avoids jail term

The former vice principal of the Sawtry school was also sentenced after admitting fraud.

Alan Stevens (64) of Sapperton, Werrington, also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud relating to just over £364.

He was sentenced to 24 weeks suspended for 12 months with 80 hours of unpaid work at the sentencing hearing at Huntingdon Crown Court on Friday.

The court was told his fraud was also related to expense claims, which were signed off by James Stewart.

Stevens, who had been deputy principal since 1994, also issued an apology to pupils and staff at the school, and the Sawtry community as a whole.

David Swinnerton, defending, said he accepted he was negligent, but he and Stewart were ‘not in it together.’ He said Stevens admitted he had ‘stepped over the line.’

He also outlined serious health problems Stevens has had in recent years, including rheumatoid arthritis, tongue cancer and heart failure.

Judge Bridge said the offences were not as serious as the ones faced by Stewart, as the money involved was ‘a drop in the ocean’ compared to Stevens’ co-defendant.

Stevens was ordered to pay the money back as compensation to the school.