A teacher who stole nearly £60,000 worth of gift cards, holidays and hotel stays intended as rewards for children with mental health needs has been ordered to repay just £1.

Sharon May, 46, of Caister Close, Urmston, was employed as a teacher at Irlam and Cadishead College in Salford when she took responsibility for the Targeting Mental Health in Schools initiative.

The project aimed to develop mental health provision while giving young people swifter and easier access to professionals in the field.

But between 2010 and 2014, May helped herself to rewards and incentives meant for the pupils, and used them to treat family and friends.

She was caught out after Salford council received an anonymous tip-off, and after admitting theft in a hearing earlier this year, was given a suspended sentence and an unpaid work order.

On Friday her case came back to court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.

POCA allows the authorities to recover money garnered from crime.

But, because May currently has no assets that can be sold to retrieve the cash, a token order of just £1 was made. However, she remains liable for the balance for life, and if she comes into money the authorities could come after it.

May’s sentencing hearing earlier this year heard her life had been left ‘in tatters’ by her crime.

A victim impact statement from the then headteacher John Ferguson said that May was known for her excellent practice as a teacher.

He said he was ‘personally appalled and hurt’ by her actions and was ‘somewhat embarrassed’ that the theft had taken place under his nose.

Timothy Hopley, defending, said that May’s world had come crashing down around her.

When asked by Judge Michael Henshell why his client did it, Mr Hopley said ‘there was no good reason, she can’t explain it’, adding that none of her family or friends who benefited were aware of her deceit.

Judge Henshell said: “The offences that you committed were significant breaches of trust and you got away with it because people trusted you, it’s as simple as that.”

He told her that she was no longer a respected teacher, but instead a criminal as sentenced her to two years in prison, suspended for two years, with a 200-hour unpaid work order.