A WOMAN convicted of stealing dinner money at Callington Primary School has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Following a trial at Truro Crown Court Vanessa Trevithick, 39, of Laburnum Row, Callington, was convicted of three charges of theft of £3,696.95 while responsible for collecting, recording and banking the pupils' dinner money.

The court was told by defence solicitor Ramsay Quaife that Mrs Trevithick, a wife and mother of two sons and a woman of previous good character, had debts at the time. But Judge Ian Leeming said the thefts, between February and November last year, were in breech of a high degree of trust.

Mrs Trevithick was given a 40-week prison sentence suspended for two years and told she must perform 150 hours of unpaid work for the community. Due to her financial circumstances she was not ordered to pay any costs or compensation.