This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-41530524
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sawtry Village Academy ex-principal admits £100k fraud | Sawtry Village Academy ex-principal admits £100k fraud |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former school principal who kept sex toys in his office has been jailed for four years for misconduct and fraud. | A former school principal who kept sex toys in his office has been jailed for four years for misconduct and fraud. |
| James Stewart, 72, executive principal at Sawtry Village Academy until 2014, showed greed that was an "abuse of his high position of trust", a judge said. | James Stewart, 72, executive principal at Sawtry Village Academy until 2014, showed greed that was an "abuse of his high position of trust", a judge said. |
| Stewart, of Kimbolton Road, Bedford, admitted four counts of fraud and one of misconduct in a public office. | Stewart, of Kimbolton Road, Bedford, admitted four counts of fraud and one of misconduct in a public office. |
| Huntingdon Law Courts heard he spent thousands furnishing his offices, where sex toys and condoms were found. | Huntingdon Law Courts heard he spent thousands furnishing his offices, where sex toys and condoms were found. |
| The charges, which also included two of aiding and abetting his vice-principal Alan Stevens to commit fraud, relate to a period from 2009 to 2014. | The charges, which also included two of aiding and abetting his vice-principal Alan Stevens to commit fraud, relate to a period from 2009 to 2014. |
| Stewart left the college after a Department for Education investigation was launched into the running of the school. | Stewart left the college after a Department for Education investigation was launched into the running of the school. |
| Charles Myatt, prosecuting, said his "greed and abuse of the system" led him to claim more than £85,000 from the school to pay off debts on personal credit cards. | Charles Myatt, prosecuting, said his "greed and abuse of the system" led him to claim more than £85,000 from the school to pay off debts on personal credit cards. |
| The defendant would lock himself in his offices, where he had a private phone line installed to place bets with bookmaker William Hill, and watch horse racing on TV, the court heard. | The defendant would lock himself in his offices, where he had a private phone line installed to place bets with bookmaker William Hill, and watch horse racing on TV, the court heard. |
| He also claimed a total of £6,000 in expenses to cover household bills. | He also claimed a total of £6,000 in expenses to cover household bills. |
| Peter Leeton, chairman of governors at the time, told investigators Stewart was "very persuasive" and someone he "greatly trusted". | Peter Leeton, chairman of governors at the time, told investigators Stewart was "very persuasive" and someone he "greatly trusted". |
| He admitted that perhaps he "didn't probe or have enough of an inquiring mind" about his behaviour. | He admitted that perhaps he "didn't probe or have enough of an inquiring mind" about his behaviour. |
| School staff described the defendant as a "racist, sexist and fattest bully", the court heard. He was "autocratic" and his poor attendance "became a running joke". | School staff described the defendant as a "racist, sexist and fattest bully", the court heard. He was "autocratic" and his poor attendance "became a running joke". |
| Suspended sentence | Suspended sentence |
| Mr Stewart's suite of offices was "much better furnished than the rest of the school, which was in need of repair and decoration", the court heard. | Mr Stewart's suite of offices was "much better furnished than the rest of the school, which was in need of repair and decoration", the court heard. |
| One contractor, who looked inside the offices, said he saw sex toys, condoms and lubricant. | One contractor, who looked inside the offices, said he saw sex toys, condoms and lubricant. |
| Inspectors also found condoms, loose change and blank expense forms when they opened up drawers. | |
| Sentencing, Judge Stuart Bridge said: "By all accounts, this was a serious fraud by abuse of position by a person who was in a high position of trust and it was a fraud that was committed over a significant period of time." | Sentencing, Judge Stuart Bridge said: "By all accounts, this was a serious fraud by abuse of position by a person who was in a high position of trust and it was a fraud that was committed over a significant period of time." |
| Stevens, 64 and of Sapperton near Peterborough, admitted two fraud charges, totalling £364.59 over the same period. | Stevens, 64 and of Sapperton near Peterborough, admitted two fraud charges, totalling £364.59 over the same period. |
| He was given a 24-week suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work | He was given a 24-week suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work |