A Norfolk teacher who created fake invoices in a free school meals scam has been ordered to pay back his criminal gains.

Daniel Reynolds, 37 of Avocet Rise, Norwich was tasked with applying for and administering funds through Norfolk County Council to feed disadvantaged children over the school holidays.

However, the former assistant headteacher produced bogus invoices and pocketed money from the governments Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for himself.

In February 2024 Reynolds was handed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to four charges of fraud following a Norfolk Constabulary investigation.

Following the initial police operation, financial investigators from the Eastern Region Special Operations (ERSOU) began new enquiries to establish how much Reynolds had gained via his criminality.

At a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Norwich Crown Court on Tuesday (June 18), it was found that he had benefitted from his scam by £14,871.66. 

He was ordered to repay the full amount which included £9,598.66 to be paid as compensation to Norfolk County Council. Reynolds was ordered to pay within three months or serve an eight-month prison term. He would still be required to pay the full amount.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Burns, from ERSOU’s Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “Following a successful prosecution by our Norfolk colleagues, our role was to ensure that any benefit gained by Reynolds through his criminality, was stripped and taken away.

“Using POCA legislation I am pleased that we have been able to recover the funds which will be returned to Norfolk County Council and utilised in the way that they were intended.”