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| School place 'fraud' case dropped | School place 'fraud' case dropped |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A council which was the first to prosecute a mother for lying on an admissions form to get her son into a good school has withdrawn its action. | A council which was the first to prosecute a mother for lying on an admissions form to get her son into a good school has withdrawn its action. |
| Harrow Council in London prosecuted Mrinal Patel who gave her mother's address when applying to the popular Pinner Park First School for her son. | Harrow Council in London prosecuted Mrinal Patel who gave her mother's address when applying to the popular Pinner Park First School for her son. |
| The council had used the Fraud Act 2006 to prosecute Mrs Patel, but it is now not clear if it can apply in this case. | The council had used the Fraud Act 2006 to prosecute Mrs Patel, but it is now not clear if it can apply in this case. |
| Mrs Patel said she was relieved and the decision showed she was innocent. | |
| "It's a great relief for me and my family. It's been an extremely difficult ordeal and I'm happy to put the matter behind me," she said. | |
| "I have from the outset denied the allegations and the council's unconditional withdrawal of the proceedings confirms my innocence." | |
| It was thought she was the first person to be prosecuted in this way. | It was thought she was the first person to be prosecuted in this way. |
| Harrow Council said it was no longer clear that the Fraud Act 2006 could be used to cover this type of case, and so it had decided to withdraw the action to avoid potentially expensive court costs. | Harrow Council said it was no longer clear that the Fraud Act 2006 could be used to cover this type of case, and so it had decided to withdraw the action to avoid potentially expensive court costs. |
| Pinner Park First School received 411 applications for its 90 available places in September 2008. | Pinner Park First School received 411 applications for its 90 available places in September 2008. |
| This case was never about persecuting mothers who wish to do the best for their children David AshtonLeader of Harrow Council | This case was never about persecuting mothers who wish to do the best for their children David AshtonLeader of Harrow Council |
| Harrow Council says it allocated places to children living closest to the school, up to a maximum distance of 0.685 miles. | Harrow Council says it allocated places to children living closest to the school, up to a maximum distance of 0.685 miles. |
| When she applied for a school place, Mrs Patel gave the address of her mother, which was within the school's catchment area, rather than the family address. | When she applied for a school place, Mrs Patel gave the address of her mother, which was within the school's catchment area, rather than the family address. |
| Mrs Patel said that she was separated from her husband at this time, but that a few weeks later she moved back to the family home. | Mrs Patel said that she was separated from her husband at this time, but that a few weeks later she moved back to the family home. |
| Harrow Council said it had brought the case "with the greatest of reluctance" after Mrs Patel failed to explain irregularities regarding her application. | Harrow Council said it had brought the case "with the greatest of reluctance" after Mrs Patel failed to explain irregularities regarding her application. |
| Councillor David Ashton, Leader of Harrow Council, said in a statement: "In our opinion, the criteria to bring a prosecution in this case were met and therefore a court summons was issued. | Councillor David Ashton, Leader of Harrow Council, said in a statement: "In our opinion, the criteria to bring a prosecution in this case were met and therefore a court summons was issued. |
| "The initial hearing has raised issues over the use of the Fraud Act 2006," he continued. | "The initial hearing has raised issues over the use of the Fraud Act 2006," he continued. |
| "While we stand by the substance of our case, subsequent legal advice is that technical legal arguments over the interpretation of the Act could pose a risk to the success of the action. | "While we stand by the substance of our case, subsequent legal advice is that technical legal arguments over the interpretation of the Act could pose a risk to the success of the action. |
| "We have therefore decided that, rather than incur potentially costly legal fees over a Crown Court case that might be undermined by legal argument, the interests of residents are better served by Harrow Council withdrawing this action. | "We have therefore decided that, rather than incur potentially costly legal fees over a Crown Court case that might be undermined by legal argument, the interests of residents are better served by Harrow Council withdrawing this action. |
| "This case was never about persecuting mothers who wish to do the best for their children; it was about defending the integrity of the school system against those who might seek to flout it." | "This case was never about persecuting mothers who wish to do the best for their children; it was about defending the integrity of the school system against those who might seek to flout it." |