NHS nurse stole thousands from primary school

A THIEVING mum-of-two stole almost £8,000 from a junior school fundraising pot in two years while head of a parent-teacher group.

NHS nurse Joanne Rogers became chair of the Friends of Springfield Junior School group in late 2016 and had access to its accounts from 2017 to 2019, with the group supporting the school in Springfield Road, Swadlincote.

The group held 26 fundraisers in those two years, but suspicion was aroused after no money was put into the group’s bank account.

Rogers, 48, wept as the court heard how, despite being arrested two years ago, she had not told her family or employers about her offending and had written three letters to explain to them what had happened in case she was sent to prison.

But, at Derby Crown Court, Recorder Michelle Heeley QC spared her from an immediate jail sentence. She said: “This group raised money for a school for children.

“You stole that money, took it, spent it and kept it. You let children down. The school and children relied upon you. You have set a poor example. Your employer does not know of your crimes. It is only a matter of time before they do. This was an abuse of trust. This group has now fallen apart because of your actions.

“I balance against that your previous good character, your evident remorse and your early guilty plea. It concerns me that you hid this for two years.

“It is your children who would suffer [from you being sent to prison]. It is my judgement that you should repay your debt to society another way.”

Rogers, of Swadlincote Road, Swadlincote, was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for a year, and must pay £1,500 in compensation to the school.

The friends group helped to support the school by raising money for its pupils, who range from Year 3 to Year 6, through community events.

Caroline Sellars, prosecuting, told the court Rogers took the group’s bank books home to try to hide her crimes, despite repeated requests for them to be returned.

She used the money on living expenses rather than luxury goods, and did buy presents for schoolchildren on one occasion. The prosecution, referring to an impact statement by the school, were concerned the community would be less reluctant to contribute to school fundraising in future, with staff having to work extra hours to do so. Rogers had pleaded guilty to one count of theft by an employee appearing before Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on August 12. Almas Ben-Aribia, defending, said Rogers had a realistic chance of rehabilitation after the “opportunistic crime” and that her offending had been caused by financial strain. “She is utterly ashamed, could say sorry until the cows come home, but it would not make the slightest difference. The shame and remorse that she feels, it is palpable.”

The judge ordered Rogers to pay £350 in costs and a victim surcharge and be subject to a twomonth curfew from 8pm until 6am every day.

This was an abuse of trust. This group has now fallen apart because of your action Recorder Michelle Heeley