A HEADTEACHER’S fall from grace was complete yesterday when he was convicted of making a fraudulent insurance claim after having had his BMW car burned out.

Alan Bromley, who was described as a man of impeccable character, shook his head in disbelief when a jury returned a majority verdict at Durham Crown Court, after deliberating for three hours.

Bromley, 46, denied fraud and told the court he had nothing to gain by committing the crime.

But the prosecution argued he faced a penalty for exceeding the mileage agreement on the lease car and was under other financial pressure at the time.

During the four-day trial, the court was told that Bromley, a headteacher at Wheatley Hill Primary School, in County Durham, had attended a carol concert involving children from his school at the village workingmen’s club, on December 2, 2009.

He said he left the function with the deputy head – his pregnant partner, Joanne Nugent – as he had consumed a few drinks.

After arriving home at Low Knitsley Farm Cottages, near Consett, he was told his “pride and joy” had been found alight near Bishop Middleham, several miles from Wheatley Hill.

At a previous hearing, Warren Grier, prosecuting, said examination of a computer chip in the car’s key showed it was last driven at 10.22pm that night.

But, he added, this could have been 9.22pm, taking into account it had not been adjusted from British Summer Time.

This was about the time Bromley left the function and shortly before it was found alight. The car showed no signs of a break-in.

Bromley’s ruse unravelled when his claim came under suspicion by Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company.

A four-year lease agreement, taken out with a Durham dealership, stipulated he had to pay 4.03p a mile surcharge if it exceeded 6,000 miles a year.

The same computer chip showed he had completed more than 50,000 miles by the night the car was destroyed.

In his closing statement to the jury, defending barrister Tony Davis said: “What has been suggested here is that when a number of year six pupils with cherubic faces are singing the opening bars of Once in Royal David’s City, or something similar, their headmaster – a man of impeccable character – is plotting to defraud an insurance company.”

The jury agreed by a majority of ten to two that that was the case.

A Durham County Council spokesman said the school governors would be meeting to consider the situation. Bromley was bailed to appear at Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing on June 3.