A FORMER Accrington deputy head teacher has been jailed for three months after admitting he obtained salary by deception and other offences.

Alistair Beeston, 36, who was deputy head of St Peter's Church of England Primary School in Accrington for five years until January 1992, claimed he had several education qualifications, including a Master's degree in education and diplomas in teaching maths, humanities and science.

But after accepting the post of headmaster at Nether Kellet Junior School, near Carnforth, a colleague became suspicious and it was later discovered that he only held a basic teaching certificate.

It all went undetected at St Peter's but, at Preston Crown Court, Beeston - described by detectives as "a man of enormous conceit" - admitted obtaining £71,000 in salary by deception, forging three cheques and obtaining the services of a Renault dealer, who loaned him a Laguna, by deception.

During his time at St Peter's, off Willows Lane, Beeston, worked under two headteachers - Ian Barton and then Valerie Logue.

He hit the headlines of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in March 1988 when he gave a pillion passenger first aid at the scene of a motorcycle accident.

He also led a prize-winning treasure trail project with British Gas in December 1988.

Jailing him, Judge Charles Mahon said: "This was a most serious breach of trust."

The court heard that his colleague, Mrs Sue Jobbins, first became suspicious when they were presented with a restaurant bill for a school trip to Merseyside.

She had co-signed cheques to be paid in advance covering all their expenses. Staff at St Peter's this week refused to comment on Mr Beeston's time at the school.

But a spokeswoman for the county council said: "Formerly we only used to require certificates from new entrants into the teaching profession. Under current agreements, we require all successful applicants to present certificates of all education qualifications prior to appointments being confirmed."

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