A former headmistress of a private school who fraudulently claimed expenses for luxury shopping vouchers worth almost 3,000 has walked free.

Hillary French was the boss at Newcastle High School for Girls when she abused her position by making the false claims for spending at the department store John Lewis.

Newcastle Crown Court heard she also fraudulently claimed for meals out with former students and the theft of an expensive coat which was later found in her car.

The 67-year-old's deceit began in 2016, when she was the head at the 14K a year private school in the Jesmond area of Newcastle, a post she held between 2006 and 2018.

Prosecutor Liam O'Brien said it was by 'pure chance' that one of the former students who French claimed she had met with for a meal, ended up bumping into another member of staff at the school.

She confirmed she had not seen the Ms French since she left school.

Mr O'Brien told the court that the first spate of offending took place between April 2016 and February 2018.

He said: 'During that period, the defendant submitted a series of expense claims for a total of 65 John Lewis gift vouchers.'

The court heard that Ms French claimed they were all purchased as either leaving gifts for colleagues, rewards for high performing students, or as thanks to guest speakers.

However, Mr O'Brien added: 'In fact, the vouchers were simply kept by the defendant and used for her own personal benefit.

'The total amount claimed by the defendant through fraudulent...

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