Ex-teacher avoids jail over M&S scam

A retired teacher avoided prison yesterday despite having conned Marks & Spencer out of nearly £40,000 by claiming refunds for goods she never paid for.

Pamela Wanklyn, 56, from Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, admitted 10 counts of theft yesterday and asked a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court. to consider 162 other offences.

Police who raided her home found six cheque books, which she used to buy the goods before asking for the cheques to be cancelled. On other occasions, Wanklyn's cheques were not honoured because of insufficient funds. When her crimes were uncovered, she donned sunglasses and a wig to continue the thefts.

Gareth Walters, for the prosecution, said Wanklyn stole £38,472.09 from February to October last year.

"It's probably fair to say that the ease with which they let her return items and gave her a cash refund put the idea into her head that she could continue with that form of offence," he said.

Jeremy Wright, for the defence, said Wanklyn had stolen the goods while suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, after being assaulted twice at the school where she worked.

Wanklyn, who took early retirement, had no previous convictions and had signed the cheques in her own name, the court was told. Mr Wright said: "These were not sophisticated offences. The money was used to defray debts. It was not used to fund a lavish lifestyle."

Recorder John Aucott gave her three years' community service and ordered her to continue with psychiatric care. He said a jail sentence could have pushed her over the edge "You no longer are of good character. You are a thief who stole nearly £40,000. Even after it had been discovered, you carried on," he said.

Outside court, Wanklyn said she felt terrible and promised that her husband would reimburse M&S using a lump sum from his early retirement.