AN administrative assistant who stole more than £6,000 from the school where she worked walked free from court today.

Maureen Murray secretly stole the money over 18 months and it only came to light after she went off sick and resigned on learning that the accounts were to be checked.

She was thought of so highly by St Peter's and St Paul's RC Primary School in New Brighton, that the head teacher had written to her offering support in the hope she would return to her job.

But when the accounts for the school's nursery, Little Acorns, were examined it was found that she had stolen a total of £6,209 by making payments into her own bank account, said Henry Riding, prosecuting.

When questioned by police 43-year-old Murray accepted payments had been made into her account but denied being responsible.

She elected for the case to be heard at Liverpool Crown Court and it was only when the case was listed for trial last month that she changed her plea and admitted theft.

Mr Riding told the court that she had been employed at the school since 2008 and her admin work included responsibility for the nursery's bank account.

On May 21 last year the head teacher and governors met to discuss the school's finances and how to invest the money accumulated in its bank account.

"She kept the minutes of the meeting and that was the last time she was seen face to face," said Mr Riding.

When the accounts were later checked, it was found that the money had been taken in 11 transactions between November 2011 and May last year.

It was an "unsophisticated" crime as records clearly showed the money had been paid into her account.

Andrew McInnes, defending, said Murray, a mother-of-two, had taken the cash because of financial problems.

She could have taken more but did not do so and what she took was used to keep the family afloat and make ends meet.

Her husband and children had been unaware of her behaviour and her husband, although still under the same roof, has since effectively distanced himself from her and she relies on money from her mother to support herself and the children.

He added that she has no funds to repay the missing money but her home will have to be sold which will enable her to pay compensation.

"She is aware that her two young son, who are at school, are at real risk of coming home to find their mother is in custody," said Mr McInnes.

"It is unfortunate she did not ask for help when in financial difficulties insetad of taking the position she did."

Murray, of Buttermere Avenue, Prenton, pleaded guilty to theft between November 8, 2011, and May 4 last year.

Sentencing her to 18 months' imprisonment the judge, Recorder Abigail Hudson, said she had decided to suspend it for two years for the sake of her two children and because she was unlikely to ever re-offend.

"It was an extremely unsophisticated offence and very easy to find out where the money had gone.

"I accept you are a hard worker and a loving mother and accept you committed this offence in order to finance your family, but the fact is you and your family were living above your means on money belonging to those children.

"You stole more than £6,000 and a high degree of trust was imposed in you and you persisted in that course of action over 18 months," added the judge.

She also ordered Murray to carry out 200 hours' unpaid work and repay the missing money within two years.