A former treasurer has appeared in court accused of siphoning off £37,000 of funds from a pre-school playgroup.

Kerry Goldsmith, 49, of Laurence Close, Bapchild, near Sittingbourne, faces 27 counts of fraud.

She appeared at Medway magistrates court today but made no plea.

Chairman of the bench Susan Broughton committed the case to Maidstone Crown Court.

Goldsmith was given unconditional bail and told to appear at the court on December 3.

Prosecutor Andrew Jones said she had been treasurer of The Owl and the Pussycat Pre-School in School Lane, Bapchild, for a number of years and had "misappropriated" a total of £37,000.

He said: "This is a case of a serious abuse of trust and could carry a sentence of between 18 months to four years in custody which is outside this court's jurisdiction."

The thefts are alleged to have taken place over nearly seven years between September 2011 and June 2018.

The pre-school for youngsters aged two to school age is based in a mobile building at Bapchild and Tonge Church of England Primary School and is registered to look after up to 24 children a session.

The charges brought against Goldsmith include:

Dishonestly making a false representation between September 9, 2011, and June 21, 2018, that cheques presented to Treena Field for signing would be used to pay school bills.

Furnishing false information relating to accounts on April 16, 2012, claiming a grant of £500 had to be repaid to Kent County Council.

Fraud by abuse of position on April 25, 2012, by depositing a £500 cheque into her own NatWest bank account.

On May 20, 2012 dishonestly saying £4,500 rent was owed to Kent County Council.

Fraud by abuse of position between May and July 2012 when she deposited two cheques of £1,500 each into her own account which she was not entitled to.

Falsely claiming the pre-school had to pay a £1,155 fee for a planning application in April 2013 and then pocketing the cheque.

Making out a remittance slip on November 24, 2014 that the school had paid £770 as part of a planning application.

She is also alleged to have pocketed money meant for training staff, building work, children's entertainers, Weight Watchers, staff parties, computers, a Christmas tree and the tax man.

All the charges have been brought under the Fraud Act 2006 or the Theft Act 1968.

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