A SCHOOL bursar has admitted stealing about £60k in a decade long swindle. Ronald Bainbridge, 59, of Sparkes Close, Bromley, faked his cv to get the job of bursar at nearby Ravensbourne School in Hayes Lane in July 1995.

He persistently pocketed money during his time in the post by siphoning off debts owed to the school by Lloyds TSB bank. He managed to cover up his crimes until the summer of 2005. Appearing at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, Bainbridge pleaded guilty to 17 counts of theft between August 2000 and January 2005.

He also admitted one count each of obtaining a money transfer by deception, obtaining a percuniary advantage by decpetion and furnishing false information.

In May 2004, Bainbridge made a false record of £389,277 having been paid to Lloyds TSB. In March 2005, he dishonestly obtained £4,200 by presenting the bank with a false cheque made payable to R.S. Bainbridge. In his cv, Bainbridge falsely claimed that he was a qualified accountant and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Bainbridge pleaded not guilty to a further eight counts of theft and two counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception.

Those charges amount to £14,000. The case was adjourned until next month.

Bainbridge was granted bail on condition that he lives at an address given to the court