Durham School Faces Financial Crisis After Finance Manager's Fraud
A Durham school was compelled to cut jobs and reduce spending on student resources following a shocking embezzlement scandal. Kevin Enright, the former finance manager of St Leonard's Catholic School, siphoned off £129,160.43 through 104 fraudulent transactions between 2019 and 2020, leaving the school £82,000 in debt.
The Fraud Uncovered
Enright, who served as the business and finance manager at the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, masked his theft by creating fake invoices. The stolen funds were allegedly used to pay off gambling debts. His actions came to light only after he was suspended for unrelated performance issues, and a subsequent audit revealed the irregular transactions.
Impact on the School and Students
The financial shortfall forced the school to:
- Restructure support staff, leading to multiple job losses.
- Cut spending on essential items like books, equipment, and curriculum activities.
The school's statement highlighted that Enright's betrayal directly harmed students, depriving them of resources meant for their education and fostering mistrust among staff.
Legal Consequences
Enright, 46, from Houghton-le-Spring, admitted to fraud by abuse of position and was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. Despite his claims of depression and gambling addiction following a divorce, the judge emphasized the lasting damage his actions inflicted on the school.
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