A trip to Legoland, shopping and car insurance were paid for out of an Isle of Wight primary school's PTA fund by its disgraced chairman

Today, William Egan, now of Arboretum Avenue, Lincoln, was jailed for two years for his crimes.

The Isle of Wight Crown Court heard he defrauded St Helens Primary School and lied to conceal his dishonesty.

The 34-year-old admitted one count of fraud by abuse of position, having indicated a guilty plea on the week of his trial.

He was previously charged with fraud by false representation, which he denied on October 29 last year.

Prosecutor, Daniel Sawyer, told the court Egan had become chairman, governor and treasurer of St Helens Primary School parent–teacher association.

He described him as being forthcoming in offering services to the school.

In May, 2018, the new headmaster of the school contacted Egan via email, asking if funds were available for a new carpet.

Egan stepped down with immediate effect, and governors began trying to find the financial information for the PTA.

Mr Sawyer said Egan disappeared and governors were forced to go to HSBC bank for information.

It came to light that Egan and his wife were the only two people nominated on the account.

Mr Sawyer said a large amount of money was unaccounted for, and £8,722 was plainly taken for personal use.

He said expenditures included a £400 trip to Legoland, general shopping and car insurance.

Mr Sawyer said Egan resigned on May 18, only to tell the bank his card had been defrauded. He withdrew more money from the account two days after that.

Egan was arrested in August 2018, and Mr Sawyer said he told police in interview he spent his own money on the school.

He claimed both headmasters told him he could reimburse himself from the PTA funds, but receipts to substantiate his claims never surfaced.

Mr Sawyer said Egan used various aliases, and had been convicted only last year for fraud by false representation.

He revealed Egan committed fraud three days before being interviewed for this matter.

Mr Sawyer said he used extravagant claims to become a governor, when he was actually unemployed.

Ellie Sheahan, defending, conceded it was an unattractive case, made worse by it being a school his own child attended.

She said Egan, whose mental health had deteriorated around the time of the offence, was ashamed of his behaviour looking back.

Ms Sheahan said Egan's late mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, and he was trying to deal with the emotions of that.

She said, through the aid of medication and professional help, he was no longer the person he was before.

Judge Tim Mousley QC said Egan signed defence statements perpetuating lies throughout proceedings.

He said he lied his way into a position of financial responsibility, and led the school into believing he was acting in their best interests.

The court heard Egan purported to be the victim of domestic violence and had a mental breakdown, but Judge Mousley said information suggested circumstances couldn't be more different.

He said it was hard to tell where the deception ended and the truth began, and Egan had a history of trying to lie his way out of trouble.

Judge Mousley said the pupils and parents of the school were ultimately the victims of his offending, and sentenced Egan to 24 months in prison.

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.