A headmistress accused of living a millionaire lifestyle with stolen school funds enjoyed luxury holidays in the sun with a female colleague, a court heard last Thursday (May 22).
Colleen McCabe, 50, spent a fortnight in a secluded Maltese villa with vice principal Cathy Reid, paid for with plundered cash.
During their Mediterranean break McCabe allegedly boasted how she could forge the signature of colleague Michael Kelly the co-signatory of school funds, jurors heard.
Southwark Crown Court has heard how McCabe and bursar Maureen Stapley, 41, from Addiscombe, "hammered" the corporate Barclaycards of St John Rigby Roman Catholic College in West Wickham.
It is claimed they blew up to £500,000 on holidays, jewellery, trips on the Orient Express and top-class meals for more than four years.
Ms Reid, a "close friend" of McCabe's for 11 years, told the court they used to barn dance together and holidayed abroad at least four times.
On one trip together to the resort of Gozo, McCabe allegedly spent £5,774.89 of school cash, including £1,600 on jewellery.
The court heard how once questions were raised about the running of the 1,100-pupil comprehensive's finances, Stapley and McCabe began to distance themselves from each other.
Ms McCabe, of Sidcup, Kent, denies 17 charges of theft between May 24, 1995 and August 10, 1999, totalling £74,266.79.
Stapley of Carlyle Road, Addiscombe, denies seven charges of theft between January 2, 1996 and July 25, 1999, relating to £15,290.09.
The trial continues.
May 30, 2003 09:30
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