Home Page Haverhill News

A MAJORETTE trainer in Haverhill has been jailed for nine months for stealing more than £5,000 from the troupe.
Jacqui Neale, 24, of Chapel Street, Ridgewell, admitted stealing more than £5,000 from the New Image majorette troupe over a five-year period.
Sudbury magistrates were told that money raised by parents and subscriptions could not be accounted for, and that money was still owed by the New Image majorette troupe for the hire of halls in Haverhill.
Neale, of Chapel Road, Ridgewell, admitted "dipping" into funds after getting into financial difficulties.
Paul Cammiss, for Neale, said she had a long history of psychological problems dating from her teens and felt deep shame for what she had done.
Neale was sentenced to five months in jail for the theft of £3,000 and four months, to run consecutively, for theft of £1,900.
She was also jailed for a month for each of two other thefts, one of £40 and another of £210, to run concurrently.
After the court case parents, who raised hundreds of pounds for the troupe, spoke out.
Kim Fernandez, whose daughters Rebecca, 10, and five-year-old Melissa, were members of the group, said they wanted to put the matter behind them and concentrate on developing the new Millennium Stars troupe, which was formed by parents.
Mrs Fernandez said Rebecca and Melissa were among 10 girls thrown out of the troupe when parents asked questions about money raised.
They also missed out on a trip to the Czech Republic, and had not received any cash back.
"The girls were heartbroken that they could not go and we all lost a lot of money," she said.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to represent their country that they missed out on and it is impossible to replace. It won't happen again.
"We have been holding stalls and raising money for the new troupe and it has been hard getting it up and running. We have had really good support from the Black Horse pub and from the public. They have been really backing us and we have raised about £2,000."
* Neale's mother, Maureen Neale, 56, of Stanton Place, Haverhill, denies stealing £5,500 from the troupe, and her case was adjourned until April 11.

PHOTO CAPTION: Jailed… former troupe leader Jacqui Neale arrives at court on Monday.