Nicola Kennerley, 49, nicked £10,000 while working as the PTA treasurer at a Merseyside primary school – leaving pupils without ‘valuable opportunities and experiences’
A mum siphoned off thousands of pounds from a parent and teacher association’s (PTA) funds so she could spend it on computer games and shopping.
Nicola Kennerley stole a staggering £10,000 over the course of several years while serving as the PTA treasurer at Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Halewood in Knowsley, Merseyside. The bank worker then spent the cash on her Amazon Prime subscription and Xbox games.
Her swindle even saw the school’s disco get cancelled, as one “betrayed” fellow volunteer today told her: “I thought we were friends, I don’t think I will ever understand why you did what you did.” It comes after a headteacher spots a pupil stealing from school – but the explanation is heartbreaking.
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Kennerley served as treasurer PTA at the school between 2019 and 2024, with the organisation having raised funds for events, equipment and trips for pupils, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday. However, the 49-year-old, of Fields End in Huyton, announced in April of last year that she would be stepping down from this role and indicated to her successor that there were “no funds left for the rest of the year”.
Hannah Darling, prosecuting, described how this led to suspicions arising as the new treasurer believed there to be around £1,800 to be left in the PTA’s funds, reports Liverpool Echo. Kennerley went on to suggest closing the bank account with Barclays, where she was employed as a mortgage advisor, which was under her control and opening a new one due to “difficulties changing the signatory”.
Having done so and provided a remaining balance of £1,720, monies which she was said to have borrowed from her dad, she did not supply the school with any bank statements until September of 2024. When these were disclosed, it was discovered that around £10,000 had gone missing from the account, with suspicious transactions having included payments for Amazon Prime, Amazon Music and Xbox subscriptions.
When interviewed by police in February, Kennerley told detectives that she had been in an abusive relationship and “became dependent on alcohol to cope”, leading to her “using funds to stay afloat financially”. She added that she “always intended to put it back”, having used the funds to pay for petrol and at a shop near to her home.
In a statement which was read to the court, the PTA’s new treasurers said: “The funds that were stolen were intended to directly support the wellbeing, development and experiences of the children in the school. That has had significant and lasting consequences for our community.
“Our children lost out on valuable opportunities and experiences. We were unable to hold discos and summer fairs. We have worked hard to repair the damage. Despite challenges, we have managed to raise enough money to provide events for our family.”
Kennerley was also said to have “failed to submit timely returns to the Charity Commission”, leading to the PTA being refused grants for funding. Heidi Green, whom the defendant recruited as co-chairman of the PTA, said in her own statement that she had been left “overwhelmed, disappointed, betrayed, heartbroken and upset” by her actions.
She added: “I put my trust in Nicola as a friend and thought the financial side of the PTA would be well taken care of. The real victims of this crime are the pupils of Holy Family Catholic Primary School. It is also the victims who have donated their hard earned money to the PTA, believing it was going towards the children.
“The more I think about it, it makes me angrier. I struggle to put into words the effect it’s had on me. Why did she do this? Why has she betrayed me? I thought we were friends. To this day, I still don’t know whether we will get answers to our questions.
“I feel betrayed that someone I considered a friend would put me in a position to be manipulated. I feel like an idiot. I don’t think I will ever understand why you did what you did and how you could put me in the situation you have.”
Kennerley has no previous convictions. Andrew McInnes, defending, told the court: “She has never been before the courts before and faces the court with understandable shame, but also significant trepidation. She knows exactly how much her actions have impacted both on the school and individuals in the PTA, and she apologises, through me, to the court and those people.
“She gave full and frank admissions in interview and an explanation, in part. As time went on, the amounts became larger. Like a snowball going downhill, she could not pay them back. She says to me that, at times, she tried to put money back into the account. Also, some of the Amazon payments, she claims, were for things used by the PTA, but she accepts that the amount was in the region of £10,000.
“She was employed as a part-time mortgage advisor. She also was in receipt of some Universal Credit as the mother of three children. Her finances were relatively tight. There are outstanding matters in terms of council tax, utilities and rent arrears.
“She knows that she will lose her job. To her credit, she has found alternative employment through one of the agencies she has been working with as a self-employed cleaner. Clearly, she would wish to pay some of the funds back. It is clear that she got herself into a significant financial hole.
“In my submission, this was out of character. It went on for some time, but it was not in accordance with Nicola Kennerley’s character and morals. She has lost her good name, she has lost her employment and many friends.
“She has rid herself of negative influences and alcohol addiction. Her son has just completed his GCSEs. The others are aged 13 and 10. Their main carer is this defendant. The effect on them would be considerable.
“The only issue is whether, because of this breach of trust, the sentence has to be immediate. I hope that your honour can take a step back from this sentence and allow her to rebuild herself from the position that she is in. She knows how perilous her position is, given what she has done and the effects that it has had on the PTA, and she apologises to the court.”
Kennerley admitted one count of fraud by abuse of position. Appearing in court wearing all black, she burst into tears and wiped her eyes with a tissue after being handed a 14-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
Sentencing, Recorder Nicholas Flanagan said: “Over a five-year period, outwardly, you were volunteering as a trustee for Holy Family Catholic Primary school’s parent and teacher association. It was clear that you had been siphoning off money into your own accounts for your own purposes.
“You were spending that money in local shops and on services, and even Amazon Prime. Your offending had a significant impact on the children, who missed events and numerous opportunities.”
Recorder Flanagan added of Ms Green’s statement: “She put her trust in you, and you were doing this behind her back. I accept that there is some remorse in your case and that you are disgusted by your own actions.
“These events occurred when you were in a difficult relationship. You also had significant mental health issues. People do speak highly of you outside of this offending.
“This was a severe abuse of trust, and the offending occurred over a significant period of time. However this fraud started, it continued over an extended period of time and resulted in not just an immediate loss but ongoing issues and difficulties.
“You have some positive mitigation. You jointly care for your children with your former partner. You have also, to your credit, taken steps to eliminate your own alcohol use.
“It is right to point out that you have no previous convictions, and this offence is now a stain on your character. You have caring responsibilities for your children. I am just persuaded that this offence is not so serious that only an immediate period of imprisonment is warranted.”
Kennerley was also told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days. She could now be told to repay her ill-gotten gains under the Proceeds of Crime Act, with a further hearing scheduled for later this year.
