The District Court has convicted a teacher for theft after she stole just under $90,000 from a preschool where she worked as a manager.  The teacher was sentenced to 40 hours community service.

The teacher removed cash from the Centre’s safe over a four year period under the influence of her partner who was suffering from alcohol and gambling addictions. The theft was discovered following an audit of the Centre’s accounts.

The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has censured the teacher and ordered the register be annotated to refer to their decision. The Tribunal also imposed a three year condition on the teacher’s practicing certificate prohibiting her from being employed in a position where she would be responsible for any finances.

The Tribunal noted that the offending was out of character and only took place because she was under the influence of another. It was not until her partner became abusive that she realised her folly.

The Tribunal held that there was a small risk of future offending and found that the teacher had behaved faultlessly since the theft was exposed having already paid back $11,000. The Tribunal acknowledged that the teacher had cooperated with criminal and disciplinary proceedings and had fully completed her community work. The Tribunal also took into consideration that the teacher had a new teaching job, and had her employer’s full confidence.

 

Alan Knowsley

Education Lawyer

Wellington

 

Alan Knowsley

Education Lawyer

Wellington