BRITAIN: A headmistress who stole up to £500,000 from her school to fund a champagne lifestyle was jailed for five years yesterday.
Colleen McCabe (51) was described by a judge as a manipulative liar and bully who splashed out on herself while her students suffered.
The former nun stood with her head bowed as she was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in London watched by around 25 of her former pupils and staff.
Her trial had heard that as principal of the Catholic St John Rigby College in West Wickham, south-east London, she ran a "tyrannical" regime and led a life of luxury that "would have made Imelda Marcos proud".
The unmarried teacher spent fortunes on jewellery, fine restaurants, sunshine holidays and champagne trips on the Orient Express. She even ran up a £7,000 bill on shoes.
Judge Christopher Elwen told her: "Depriving, as you did, the children under your care of funds intended to be spent for their education and welfare was a gross breach of trust."