Kirstie Reynolds, who taught at Prudhoe West Academy, was convicted of fraud by false representation
Teacher Kirstie Reynolds used a 1p discount code to buy £2,700 worth of shopping in two Asda stores(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
A teacher who used an Asda discount code for a 1p rotisserie chicken to buy shopping worth almost £3,000 has avoided a ban. Kirstie Reynolds attended two Asda stores on multiple occasions in February and March 2023 and used a discount code at the self-checkout machines that was created to reduce the price of rotisserie chicken to £0.01.
Ms Reynolds used the discount to purchase items costing a total of £1,030.77 in one store and £1,700 in another store. Ms Reynolds pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to fraud by false representation and was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to pay compensation to Asda in 2023.
Ms Reynolds, who was a teacher at Prudhoe West Academy when the offences happened, faced a Teacher Regulation Professional Conduct Panel following her conviction. The panel found Ms Reynolds breached the standards of teachers upholding public trust and maintaining high standards of ethics and behaviour within and outside school, and teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school.
In a report issued by the panel, it states evidence was heard that Ms Reynolds had “spent every day for the last two years reflecting on how much her actions had hurt and negatively impacted her family, colleagues and the profession”. The panel was also told she took full responsibility for her actions and had not sought to diminish her actions.
The panel was satisfied Ms Reynolds had taken steps to mitigate the behaviour happening again. The panel noted there was no evidence that Ms Reynolds’ behaviour jeopardised the wellbeing of pupils.
Decision maker Marc Cavey said: “I have concluded that a prohibition order is not proportionate or in the public interest. While the misconduct found in this case was undoubtedly serious, and is likely to damage the reputation of the profession, I do not think that preventing Ms Reynolds from working as a teacher would serve any useful purpose.
“I consider therefore that the publication of the findings made would be sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that were not acceptable and that the publication would meet the public interest requirement of declaring proper standards of the profession.”
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