Fraud conviction for nursery manager who stole

At Grimsby Crown Court last week, Kelly Gray admitted to transferring money from Wise Owl Private Day Nursery in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, into her personal bank account over a period of two years after being promoted to manager in 2008, when she was made responsible for the nursery's finances.

Ms Gray was given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered to do 200 hours of community service, as well as pay back £500 of the £16,000 she stole.

She started working at the nursery in 2005 as deputy manager and became manager three years later.

Owner Toni Krajnik said that shortly after she promoted Ms Gray, she started to receive complaints from staff that the manager wasn't pulling her weight. Ms Krajnik also noticed anomalies with the cash flow.

Ms Krajnik implemented a role swap between Ms Gray and the then deputy manager, Naomi Byrne. Following the move, Ms Krajnik discovered that some of the nursery's suppliers had not received payment.

Ms Krajnik said, 'I was really surprised to learn that Kelly was stealing from the nursery, as she comes from an honest and hard-working family.

'Being a small family business, we can't afford to lose money. If it had gone on for much longer we would have had to close the nursery.'

Ms Krajnik said that some positive aspects had come from the experience, and since she promoted her deputy to manager the nursery has been doing well.

Next year Ms Krajnik is opening a new setting in Bulford, Wiltshire, and another in Messingham, North Lincolnshire.