POLICE say their investigation into whether salary fraud was committed by the former executive headteacher of the city's biggest school is likely to be concluded within weeks.
Officers have been investigating since September whether any fraudulent activity has taken place at West Exe Technology College under the leadership of former executive head Steve Maddern and former chair of governors Paul Smith.
County council officials informed police about issues raised in an internal audit report it conducted at the school.
Their inquiry followed a damning report which uncovered years of financial mismanagement under Mr Maddern and criticised his close relationship with Mr Smith.
Mr Maddern's salary of £156,000 was "significantly higher than normal" according to the report, while the £86,000 salary of his wife and senior deputy headteacher Beverley was also deemed excessive.