A school office manager, once a trusted pillar of her community, has been handed a prison sentence for a calculated betrayal that targeted the most vulnerable: the pupils themselves.
Rikki Peake, 44, systematically stole more than £7,500 from the charity-run breakfast club at Cordwalles Junior School in Camberley, Surrey. The club, designed to provide nutritious meals for children, became her personal piggy bank over a two-year period.
A Calculated Deception Unravels
Peake's deceit was discovered not by complex auditing, but by a simple and damning paper trail. A vigilant parent, who also happened to be a trustee for the club's charity, grew suspicious of the financial records. Upon reviewing the paperwork, they found shocking discrepancies.
The fraud was brazen. Peake had been creating fake invoices and receipts to cover her tracks, falsely claiming the stolen money had been spent on supplies for the club. Her actions were a profound breach of her position of trust, where she was responsible for the very funds she plundered.
Justice Served at Guildford Crown Court
The case culminated at Guildford Crown Court, where the full extent of her crimes was laid bare. Peake, of Frimley Green, pleaded guilty to a single count of fraud by abuse of position.
Recognising the severity of her offence—stealing from a children's charity—Recorder Nicholas Grundberg KC sentenced her to 14 months imprisonment. He emphasised that the breach of trust was so significant that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.
A Community Left Reeling
The fallout from Peake's actions extends far beyond the financial loss. The incident has shaken the trust of parents and the local community in Camberley. The breakfast club is a vital service for many families, and her actions directly threatened its operation and the well-being of the children it serves.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of financial transparency and robust oversight, even in the most trusted community institutions.
