THIEVING VEGAS NUNS BLAME GAMBLING HABIT

They stole school fees to fritter away on slot machines

A PAIR of nuns turned bad and nicked £400,000 which they blew on a wild slots spree.

The sisters in crime stole from the school where they worked before heading off for

TEMPTATION: Resort FROM PAGE 1 the casinos in Las Vegas.

Mary Kreuper, who was school principal for 29 years, and teacher pal Lana Chang, are said to have taken cheques meant for kids’ education and squirrelled the money away over 10 years.

They would then enjoy a “pattern of going to casinos”, said a lawyer for St James Catholic School in Torrance, California.

The scam was revealed only after the devious duo retired earlier this year.

Monsignor Michael Meyers, the school’s pastor, said it did not want to open criminal proceedings, adding: “No student or programme has suffered any loss of educational resources, opportunities, or innovations.”

The nuns were members of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, whose spokesman said: “We are saddened by this situation and regret any injury to our long relationship with the families of the school.

“The sisters have confirmed the misappropriation of funds and have co-operated in the investigation.

“The Sisters of St Joseph both desire and intend to make complete restitution to St James School.”

The Star Says: Page 6