Council drops school admission fraud case

"I have from the outset denied the allegations and the council's unconditional withdrawal of the proceedings confirms my innocence," she said.

Her child is now being educated at a private school.

David Ashton, leader of Harrow Council, said there was a loophole in the law which prevented it from using the Fraud Act, and called for new sanctions.

"The danger here is there is a green light for parents to take a chance, put forward false information, and the worst case is they don't get the school place," he told BBC radio.

"That's not a sanction. That's the equivalent of saying to somebody who is shoplifting: 'put it back on the shelf' and that's the only punishment.

"We do need some form of sanction so that parents know it's wrong and there is some degree of punishment. We are there to protect all the other residents and parents who put forward correct information."

(Editing by Steve Addison)