A WOMAN who stole £3,900 from a Brierley Hill school’s PTA has walked free from court after blaming financial difficulties which she claimed left her fearing she would lose her home.

Natalie Field admitted taking the cash from St Mary’s RC Primary School’s parent and teacher association but said money problems caused by the breakdown of her marriage caused her to commit the deception.

The 35-year-old, of Acres Road, Quarry Bank, who earlier admitted theft, was ordered to pay back the £3,900 at Dudley Magistrates' Court today.

She was also sentenced to a 12 month community order.

Chair of magistrates Alan Willetts warned her: “It’s a very serious offence and you could easily have gone to prison today.”

He told her: “It was a position of trust.”

The court heard how Field, who was the PTA’s treasurer, began withdrawing cash from its account in December 2010.

She took three separate amounts of £300, followed by £100, then £200 and other amounts from cashpoints.

Mark Cooper, prosecuting, said Field also failed to pay money from PTA fundraisers including fairs and fetes, of amounts ranging from £100 to more than £1000, intended for “the good of the pupils” into the account.

He said: “The discrepancies came to light and the other members of the PTA discovered the account, rather than being healthily in the black to around £4k - was almost empty and almost going into the overdraft.”

The police were called in and Field made a “frank and full admission.”

Mr Cooper said: “She had split from her husband and was in financial difficulty and was afraid she would lose her house.”

Mr Cooper said Field had told the other members of the PTA she would pay the cash into a high interest account.

He said: “She knew her actions were wrong but the situation spiralled to some degree.”

Gerry Vahey, for Field, said she was “very sorry for what she has done.”

Field was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.