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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Mother denies school place fraud | Mother denies school place fraud |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A mother has pleaded not guilty to lying about her address to gain a place for her five-year-old son at a popular infant school. | A mother has pleaded not guilty to lying about her address to gain a place for her five-year-old son at a popular infant school. |
| Mrinal Patel, from London, is thought to be the first parent prosecuted in this way under the Fraud Act. | Mrinal Patel, from London, is thought to be the first parent prosecuted in this way under the Fraud Act. |
| Harrow magistrates adjourned the case until 8 July, when legal arguments will be heard in front of a district judge. | Harrow magistrates adjourned the case until 8 July, when legal arguments will be heard in front of a district judge. |
| Harrow Council said it was prosecuting her reluctantly, but the admissions system had to be fair to all parents. | Harrow Council said it was prosecuting her reluctantly, but the admissions system had to be fair to all parents. |
| Mrs Patel says she made the application in good faith and denies fraud. | Mrs Patel says she made the application in good faith and denies fraud. |
| Fairness | Fairness |
| She applied to the popular Pinner Park First School, which received 411 applications for its 90 available places in September 2008. | |
| Harrow Council says it allocated places to children living closest to the school, up to a maximum distance of 0.685 miles. |