A Salford primary school headteacher has been found guilty of stealing from the school’s accounts.
Valerie Rutty, 60, was suspended as head of Irlam Primary School in September last year after police launched an investigation into ‘financial irregularities’.
It emerged in a trial at Manchester Crown Court that Rutty had taken thousands of pounds from a school fund which contained money raised by parents and pupils through fundays and events.
An anonymous letter sent to staff raised suspicion of her wrongdoing, and an audit revealed Rutty had changed invoices to siphon off nearly £3,500 over four years.
In court today she pleaded guilty to theft and was handed a four-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months.
After her initial suspension Rutty was replaced by current Irlam Primary School acting headteacher Elaine Darwin.
