2:20pm Friday 12th March 2010
By James Williams
A mother-of-five who stole almost £10,000 from a Westbury pre-school will be sentenced next week after admitting charges of fraud and theft.
Claire Kirkham, 36, of Bremeridge Road, Westbury, plundered £9,567 from Kingfisher Pre-School in Arundel Close during her two years as chairman of the pre-school committee.
Kirkham admitted two counts of fraud and one of theft at Swindon Crown Court on February 19 and is due to be sentenced next Friday.
The allegations came to light in August 2008 when two of the nursery’s employees found their wage cheques had bounced.
This week a member of the pre-school’s new committee, who asked not to be named, said other volunteer committee members were horrified when Kirkham’s deceit came to light.
She said: “We were all in complete disbelief and shock when we discovered what had happened.
“The committee looked into the finances and found there was no money left. The bank was ready to close our account, but through the hard work of the staff and committee members we managed to keep the pre-school open to be the successful and thriving business it is and was before the incident.
“If we hadn’t have raised the money the group wouldn’t have opened for a new school year in September 2008.”
Mrs Kirkham, whose children attended the pre-school, quit the post when her crimes were revealed and the police were called.
The pre-school then had the difficult job of informing parents about what had happened.
The committee member added: “It wasn’t until she was properly charged that we sent a letter out to the parents saying that a committee member had been charged with theft and fraud from the pre-school, but we didn’t name her.
“We have been liaising with the Pre-School Learning Alliance and police all the way through. We’re relieved it’s almost over but saddened because we trusted her.”
The money Kirkham took would have been spent on staff wages and the running of the group, as well as going into reserves. The pre-school received funding from Wiltshire Council and revenue from fees paid by parents.
The pre-school, which has been open for 15 years, employs five people who look after 30 children.
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