A BOGUS head-teacher, jailed for obtaining more than £70,000 salary by deception, taught in a Bolton primary school for five years, it was revealed today.

Alistair Beeston was locked up for three months at Preston Crown Court after admitting deception and forging cheques.

His former head at Bolton Parish CE school said he was saddened but not surprised by the revelations in court.

Beeston, of Croxteth, Liverpool, taught at the Kestor Street Parish CE School from 1981-1986 and Graham Bedford was his head for three years during that time.

Beeston arrived at the school from Slough with glowing references.

Mr Bedford said: "I am sad. Sad for him because he clearly has a problem and very sad for the children and teachers who have been connected with him. "Myself, the clergy and the governors at Bolton Parish school felt he was morally unfit to teach because of the financial problems in his personal life and said so to the education authority in 1983. Unfortunately he was able to continue teaching for long after that.

"Fortunately, while he was in Bolton he was never in a position where he had power over school funds."

Mr Bedford who is now head at Wolfenden Street CP, Halliwell added: "I spent a long time trying to help Mr Beeston, as did the clergy and other people but in the end we decided he was not morally fit to teach our children."

Beeston, aged 36, had even been allowed to start up a Church Lads' and Girls' Brigade at Bolton Parish school. But following concerns about brigade finances, he was stopped from leading the group.

Each time Mr Bedford checked an unlikely claim or explanation Beeston would admit he had lied. "He was a compulsive liar. I don't think he could recognise his problem. His stories were often plausible but it often turned out to be fabrication and exaggeration."

Mr Bedford left the school in 1984. Two years later Beeston left and went to teach as deputy head at St Peter's CE school in Accrington.

Eventually he managed to secure a head's job at Nether Kellet junior school near Carnforth, Lancashire. He kept that job for three years until his deputy became suspicious and began to check up on him. Investigations revealed Beeston's only qualification was a basic teaching certificate.

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