A school secretary who embezzled thousands of pounds from her employer must pay it back or go to prison for a year.
Charlotte Pearce, from Caerphilly, used her position of trust at Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen in Oakdale to steal £22,321 between 2012 and 2018. She used school funds to buy items such as bleach and Fairy Liquid.
The 45-year-old attended Cardiff Crown Court on Monday for a proceeds of crime hearing, where she was ordered to pay £22,511.95 within six months. If she fails to do so she must serve 12 months in jail.
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Despite owning three properties with her husband, the defendant took the money by falsifying cheques paid to the primary school — paying the money into her own account and creating false invoices to maintain the deception. She also used the school’s Amazon accounts to buy items such as coat hooks, disabled door locks, an ID badge wallet, bin liners, and toiletries delivered to her home.
A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court in August heard Pearce was discovered after head teacher Kathryn…
