A TRUSTED estate agent employee kept rent money collected from tenants to help meet her debts, a court heard.

Michelle Anne Armstrong, whose finances were said to be in a “parlous state”, stole £13,450 over two years from estate agent and surveyor, Dennis Dowen.

Durham Crown Court heard that as administrative assistant at his Seaham office she dealt with 90 tenants, most who made their rent payments in cash.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said although Mr Dowen wanted to move to a direct debit system, Armstrong argued that, “people in Seaham prefer dealing in cash”.

Suspicion first fell on her when it emerged £1,315 in rent payments did not appear in accounts, in 2009.

Mr Abrahams said after Armstrong protested her innocence, Mr Dowen, “now to his embarrassment”, challenged his bank over the missing money.

He added that  “matters began to unravel” after she arrived at work claiming to have had £7,000 of collected rent money stolen from her car, on October 6 last year.

But CCTV footage of the area where she parked revealed no such theft took place.

Accounts were checked and the full extent of the shortfall was discovered.

Mr Abrahams said Armstrong was challenged and arrested but gave various accounts, changing her story as more evidence came to light.

At one stage she suggested a large sum went missing from a drawer at work.

Armstrong, 48, of Chestnut Way, Seaham, denied theft, but changed her plea to guilty on the day her trial was to start today (Tuesday May 7).

Nigel Hedley, mitigating, said she took the money, “from need, not greed, with no hint of lavish lifestyle”.

Recorder Bryan Cox imposed an 18 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, during which she must perform 280 hours’ unpaid work and undergo a six-month 7.30pm - 7am electronically-monitored home curfew.

Proceeds of crime confiscation proceedings will follow in coming months.