Old clothes donated by pupils stolen from Skelmersdale’s Maharishi school

Oct 11 2012 by Tom Duffy, Ormskirk Advertiser

A HEARTLESS thief stole bags of second hand clothing from a Skelmersdale school which would have raised much needed funds.

Around 40 bags of clothing were stolen from the Maharishi school last week, which had been donated by parents, children and teachers.

A mystery white van pulled in to the playground between 9.30am and 10.45am, when the driver got out and loaded the bags in to the back of the vehicle and drove off.

The clothes had been collected by a school special fundraising committee, and were about to be collected by a charity official.

Phil Mitchell, who works at the school, spoke to the Advertiser about the incident.

He said: “This has been a blow for the fundraising committee, and all the pupils, staff and parents at the school who donated clothes.

“Unfortunately the blinds were down in the school secretary’s office, so we did not the thief’s face.

“We think it was an opportunistic crime. The van driver must have been driving around, looking for something to steal.

“However we will not let the incident set us back too much. I am sure the fundraising committee will launch another collection soon.”

Lancashire Constabulary is investigating the theft from the Maharishi school on October 4.

Police have urged anyone with information to call 101 and ask for Lancashire Police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Maharishi School attracted publicity last year when it made the transition from the private sector to the state sector.

Headteacher Derek Cassells said the motivation behind the move from fee-paying to ‘free’ status – which sees state-funded schools run by parents, teachers or charities – was to open it up to more pupils.

MP Lisa Nandy argued that taxpayers money should not be used to subsidise school yoga lessons.

The school practises yoga and meditation, which it says is funded by charity.