Mum weeps in court after £10,000 school fund fraud forces disco cancellation
A mum broke down in tears in court after admitting to stealing £10,000 from a primary school's fundraising committee—cash which was meant to pay for discos, school trips, and summer fairs.
Nicola Kennerley, 49, secretly siphoned off thousands of pounds while serving as treasurer for the parent-teacher association (PTA) at Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Halewood, Merseyside, over a five-year period.
The funds, raised by parents and volunteers for pupils' events and equipment, were instead used by Kennerley to pay for Amazon Prime, Xbox subscriptions, and everyday expenses. The fraud left the PTA unable to hold planned activities, including school discos, and denied pupils valuable experiences.
Appearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, Kennerley, of Fields End in Huyton, wept as she was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months . She was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity, reports LiverpoolEcho.
Kennerley's betrayal devastated her fellow PTA members, who were left to pick up the pieces after discovering the missing funds. One former co-chair, Heidi Green, said she felt 'overwhelmed, disappointed, betrayed, heartbroken and upset.'
In a powerful statement read to the court, Ms Green said: 'I put my trust in Nicola as a friend. The real victims are the children of Holy Family Primary School.
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'It makes me angrier the more I think about it. I don't think I'll ever understand why you did what you did.'
Suspicion was first raised in April 2024, when Kennerley announced she was stepping down as treasurer and claimed there were 'no funds left' for the year. But the incoming treasurer believed around £1,800 should have remained.
Kennerley, who worked as a mortgage advisor at Barclays, suggested closing the PTA's bank account and opening a new one—claiming difficulties changing signatories. She then repaid £1,720, money she admitted borrowing from her father.
It wasn't until later in the year, when bank statements were finally handed over, that the full scale of the theft was revealed.
During police interviews, Kennerley said she had been in an abusive relationship and turned to alcohol to cope. She claimed she had always intended to repay the money and had used some of it for essential expenses like petrol and groceries.
Her defence solicitor, Andrew McInnes, said: 'She faces the court with understandable shame and trepidation. She has lost her good name, her job, and many friends.
'This was out of character. She has taken steps to address her alcohol issues and has secured work as a cleaner. Her primary concern now is her three children, who rely on her.'
Kennerley, who has no previous convictions, admitted one count of fraud by abuse of position .
Sentencing her, Recorder Nicholas Flanagan said the crime had 'a significant impact on the children,' adding: 'Outwardly, you were volunteering as a trustee, but behind the scenes, you were siphoning off money for your own use. This was a severe abuse of trust that took place over a number of years.
'You have shown some remorse, and there are signs of positive change. Given your caring responsibilities, previous good character, and the steps you have taken since, I am just persuaded that the sentence can be suspended.'
Kennerley may also face a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act , scheduled for later this year.
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