Headmistress: Valerie Rutty stole thousands of pounds raised by her pupils from bake sales and fetes that was supposed to pay for new school kit . A headmistress who stole thousands of pounds raised by her pupils from bake sales and fetes that was supposed to pay for new school kit avoided jail today. Valerie Rutty, of Warrington, Cheshire, altered invoices by increasing the prices of work she had commissioned - then paid the difference between the actual sums into her own bank account by cheque from the school fund. The 60-year-old stole almost £3,500 from the fund raised by parents, teachers and pupils over a period of more than three years at Irlam Primary School in Greater Manchester. The cash was collected by children aged three to 11 and their families through non-uniform days and other fundraisers. It would help pay for extra-curricular days out and gym equipment. But Rutty wrote nine separate cheques into a bank account she shared with her mother between December 2010 and May last year. She was only caught when Salford City Council received an anonymous letter saying she had been stealing from the school accounts. An audit was then carried out and Rutty was suspended from the school in September last year, subsequently losing her £60,000-a-year job. The money was repaid in full last month. At Manchester Crown Court Rutty was handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 70 hours of unpaid work in the community after admitting theft. Theft: The 60-year-old stole almost £3,500 from the fund at Irlam Primary School in Greater Manchester . Juliet Berry, prosecuting, said: ‘The account from which she stole money was entitled the “Irlam Primary School Fund”. ‘This money had been raised by parents and pupils at the school by hosting various events including fetes, non-uniform etc and the purpose of the money was to raise money for school trips, football kits and the like. One teacher revealed how Irlam Primary School is in serious need of more money. In a victim impact statement, a member of staff at the school named only as Mr Hargreaves said: ‘The school is in desperate need of funds to improve the quality of provision for children and staff. ‘The children worked extremely hard to help with this and we are faced with the fact that the money raised has been taken. ‘Members of staff, particularly the deputy headteacher, have been placed under severe personal stress and a great deal of uncertainty and additional work. The feelings of mistrust are perhaps the most damaging effect on the school and staff.’ ‘The money was raised by the children and parents themselves. It wasn’t money from the local authority, so one can understand how parents must feel.’ Marsha Myers, defending, said the case had been a ‘chastening experience’ for her client. Rutty had done a ‘great deal of benefit’ to the school and it achieved ratings of ‘good’ in its last Ofsted report, the court was told. But the judge told Rutty she had 'marred' her career, having previously been someone parents and children ‘would look up to’. Judge Robert Atherton added: ‘You are now 60 and have done a great deal during your life for the benefit of people and you have marred the end of your career over this period of time and that is very sad. ‘These families, parents and children would look up to you as Mrs Rutty, the headmistress, who was doing a very fine job in many respects and now their confidence has gone. 'I can understand the parents’ frustration, annoyance and anger that their money, the money they have raised, has been taken in this way.’ Rutty was also ordered to pay costs of £500. Irlam Primary, a 416-pupil community school, was formed in September 1980, following the amalgamation of an infant and junior school. On its official website, a welcome letter from the school reads: ‘All members of the staff team are committed to developing our vision which is to encourage children to be... responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.’
Valerie Rutty altered invoices by raising prices of work she commissioned . Rutty then paid herself difference between actual sums from school fund . She stole £3,500 from fund of school in Greater Manchester in three years . Avoids jail but receives suspended term and 70 hours of community work .