A school treasurer has been found guilty of stealing school fees and fundraising cash from a pre-school.

Stacey Leanne Murphy, aged 32, of Westmore Crescent, Perranwell Station, persuaded the required signatories to sign blank cheques and then stole more than £6,000 in fees and fundraising money from Perranarworthal Pre School.

Murphy appeared before Truro's magistrates' court where pleaded guilty to three offences of theft from the school between 2011 and 2012.

Sarah Vince, for the CPS, said the school manager had seen sums which were apparently hidden in the accounts and Murphy said they must have been attached in error, but then it was found there were no listings of cash paid in for children's attendances in school.

Money paid in by parents would have been collected by the defendant but they were not paid into the account.

The police were involved and found documents and money at Murphy's home relating to the school. She admitted she had cashed some cheques and used the money to pay her rent as she was in financial difficulties, and had previously persuaded other required signatories to sign some blank cheques.

She had also failed to pay the £500 fee on behalf of her own child at the school.

She was extremely remorseful and said her offences were a direct result of her family sliding into financial difficulties over a period of time. She intended to repay the money on a weekly basis.

She told officers: “I am really sorry. I hold my hands up, I have taken the money.”

Her solicitor Martin Pearce told the magistrates she had paid back the money she stole, £6,749.07 in total.

“If there is any other money she will repay it. She wants to put right what she has done wrong.”

The magistrates adjourned the case to June 4 for inquiries to be completed concerning the exact amount of compensation being sought by the school.