A SCHOOLS music boss has been found not guilty of obtaining money transfers by deception.

In a unanimous verdict, a jury at Teesside Crown Court cleared John Allen, who is head of school music services at Durham County Council.

The 50-year-old denied two offences of attempting to obtain money transfers by deception from the authority.

The trial had heard that Mr Allen was suspended after claiming £1,280 for the installation of a security system at his office when the work had not been carried out.

He was also charged with claiming travelling expenses totalling £632 for a period when he was suspended.

In his defence, Mr Allen said he had submitted an invoice for the security system before the work was carried out in order to prevent the money being lost from the current year's budget.

While admitting he had lied over the system's installation, he said that he had always intended to have the closed-circuit camera system put in place.

He also said that he believed he was entitled to claim the travelling expenses, following the relocation of his office from Darlington to Bishop Auckland.

The court was also told that Mr Allen, of Mill View, Loftus, east Cleveland, was a highly respected officer who had devoted almost 30 years of his life to education.

The jury also heard how he had transformed the schools music service since he took over the top post in 1993.

Mr Allen did not wish to comment after the trial, but a spokesman at Durham County Council said the officer would remain under suspension pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary hearing