Norwich Deputy Head Swindled Thousands in School Meal Scam

A Norwich deputy headteacher defrauded his school of tens of thousands of pounds in an elaborate school meal scam.

Daniel Reynolds, 36, of Avocet Rise, Norwich, admitted three offences of fraud by false representation when he appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court on Friday, 24th November 2023. 

Fraud by false representation is an offence under section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. It has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction; 10 years' custody and/or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment.

Reynolds was the deputy head at the city's West Earlham Junior School when he committed the offences during the covid-19 pandemic.

Magistrates heard that the 36-year-old was responsible for administering a government grant on behalf of Norwich County Council. The funds were intended to provided activities and meals for vulnerable students during the school holidays.

Josephine Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Reynolds had managed to obtain free food donations from a number of local businesses, but still generated invoices so that he could claim payment for them. He also charged parents for the food, even though it had been provided to the school for free.

Ms Jones said: "He falsified documents including invoices in order to reclaim that money from the county council but that was money that need not have been spent in the first place because what had been given was by way of donations."

Ms Jones highlighted that Reynolds was in a position of trust and responsibility, by virtue of his employment as deputy head teacher at the school. The Crown's view, she said, was that the Magistrates' Court's sentencing powers were insufficient for the offences at hand.

Hannah Sampson, mitigating, responded: "The guidelines are very clear in terms of culpability because of his role as a deputy head and the figures involved put this matter outside the sentencing powers of the magistrates."

The Magistrates were in agreement that their sentencing powers were insufficient, so sent the case to Norwich Crown Court for sentencing. They warned Reynolds that all sentencing options remained on the table, including immediate custody.

Reynolds was granted unconditional bail until his sentencing hearing at Norwich Crown Court on Monday, 8th January 2024.