A HIGH SCHOOL finance officer used the school's credit card to fund away days with the girls.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ann Marie Mitchell splashed out £706 on train tickets and also bought a £1,000 MacBook Pro and an iPhone using the St Wilfrid's Academy, Blackburn, bank card.

After suspicions were raised the head teacher compared Mitchell's Facebook activity with train transactions and realised they matched her weekends away rather than school trips.

Mitchell, 48, of Hollin Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to 11 charges of fraud by abuse of position. She was made subject to a community order for 12 months with conditions she completes a thinking skills programme and 200 hours unpaid work. She was ordered to pay £706 compensation to St Wilfrid's, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Paul Sumner, prosecuting, said Mitchell had legitimate access to the credit card but the headteacher discovered she was using it for her own personal use.

Investigations showed she had purchased train tickets when there were no school trips.

"An examination of her facebook postings showed that she was travelling at times that matched the purchase of the tickets," said Mr Sumner. "She was travelling around the country with her friends enjoying nights out. This was a clear abuse of trust."

Zabair Afzal, defending, said his client was of previous good character and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

"She is profusely apologetic for her actions and ashamed for letting herself and her family down," said Mr Afzal.

He said his client was a widow whose two sons were both away at university. She worked as an administrative officer for a furniture recycling group in Blackburn and had always been in employment.

"She is genuinely remorseful for her actions and says she will never find herself in this position again," said Mr Afzal.

"It is a sad fall from grace as she has now lost her good character."