Staff member steals �600 from Norfolk school

Anthony CarrollA PE technician who stole �600 from the Norfolk school he worked at was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work todaySam Bartram kept fees paid to Cliff Park High School in Gorleston by outside groups to use it sporting facilities, such as its astro turf pitch, for himself.Anthony Carroll

A PE technician who stole �600 from the Norfolk school he worked at was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work today

Sam Bartram kept fees paid to Cliff Park High School in Gorleston by outside groups to use its sporting facilities, such as its astro turf pitch, for himself.

Bartram, 27, of High Street, Gorleston, admitted the theft of �600 from the school between August 1 and September 30 at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court this afternoon.

Rachel Balfour, prosecuting, said Cliff Park made about �60,000 hiring out its facilities such as football teams.

In one instance of a missing �76 booking fee, Ms Balfour said Bartram told senior school staff he had given the fee to another member of staff but then changed his story by saying he had taken the money home and had spent it by mistake.

After his series of bookings thefts was discovered Bartram was sacked from Cliff Park in December for gross misconduct.

Magistrates were told that Bartram, who had no previous convictions, took the money to pay off debts that had built up after his relationship broke up. He was also suffering from severe depression at time.

Even though Bartram is now on benefits his solicitor said he wanted to pay back the �600 he had stolen because he was bitterly regretted his actions.

Annette Hall, in mitigation, said: 'He is absolutely devastated by it.'

Magistrates placed Bartram on a six month probation supervision order with the requirement of 60 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay �600 compensation to Cliff Park High School.