Deputy headteacher who helped to cheat school of £90,000 is spared jail

Yapton resident Simon Hann conspired with head Keith Davis to cheat Hampshire County Council out of cash over five years.

Hann awarded himself a 10,000 pay rise, had a patio built at his house, treated himself to lavish lunches and claimed extra expenses.

In total the 41-year-old took about 20,000 from Sundridge School in Waterlooville which caters for children with special needs and behaviour problems.

But a judge spared him a prison sentence as he had played a more minor role than Davis and admitted his guilt.

Mary Aspinall-Miles, defending, said Hann was a 'hapless right-hand man' who had been manipulated by the headteacher.

She said: "He (Davis) went round to his individual staff members and knew what buttons to push and how to persuade and cajole them.

"The difference with Mr Hann is that he succumbed to temptation and fell into bad ways with Mr Davis."

She said Hann was of previously exceptional character, and had won an award for his teaching at Sundridge School. He has since retrained as a plumber and set up his own business.

Hann, of Tacklee Road, Yapton, admitted conspiracy to defraud in September 2006 and immediately resigned, but Davis pleaded not guilty.

After a lengthy trial Davis was found guilty of conspiracy to fraud and sentenced to 27 months in prison.

At Portsmouth Crown Court, Judge Roger Hetherington gave Hann '“ who previously lived in Church Road, Chichester '“ a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of community service.

He said: "You were not the chief instigator of the fraud and to an extent I accept that you were led by Davis, but you were a willing lieutenant."

The judge said the fact Hann had pleaded guilty to the offence went in his favour.

"In an expensive case such as this one that's a factor which is always going to impress the court."

Nigel Lickley, prosecuting, added: "Throughout the period of 2000 to 2005 the two men were working together to defraud Hampshire County Council.

"They dipped into the funds from time to time as it suited them and they provided a cover for each other."