A WOMAN who posed as a Help for Heroes collector was yesterday (January 22) warned she could be jailed after admitting keeping the takings.

Tricia Lilliston failed to hand over any of the money raised over two days collecting from supermarket customers, supposedly to help wounded members of the armed forces and their families.

Durham Crown Court heard she is believed to have deprived the charity of at least £2,000 donated in its name by people shopping at the Asda store, in Bishop Auckland, on July 5 and 6 last year.

Making her first appearance in the case at the court, Lilliston’s counsel, John Turner, asked for charges to be put to the defendant.

She pleaded guilty to both fraud, in making representations to Help for Heroes that she would be collecting on their behalf, and theft of money raised for the charity.

Mr Turner told the court: “She accepted a fundraisers’ pack from Help for Heroes, and when the charity fundraising event was held over two days, no money was returned by my client.

“It was spent by her. The exact amount hasn’t been fixed with any precision, but it’s accepted it’s at least £2,000.

“She does have a previous conviction for a similar matter and, in those circumstances, I would seek an adjournment for a full background report by the Probation Service.

“She was summonsed to appear at the magistrates’ court and bailed from there to here.”

Recorder Andrew Kelbrick told 35-year-old Lilliston: “You have pleaded guilty to these two serious matters.

“You will receive full credit, in due course when you are sentenced, for the pleas you have entered."

The judge adjourned for the preparation for pre-sentence report.

Addressing Lilliston, he added: “You must attend an appointment with [the Probation Service] and assist them in that report. It will be in your interests to do that.

“Bear in mind, however, that in adjourning for a pre-sentence report, I give no indication as to what sentence will be passed.

“All options will be looked at, including custody.”

Recorder Kelbrick bailed Lilliston, of Fir Tree, Shildon, County Durham, to return for sentence on Friday, February 13.

A spokesman for Help for Heroes said it was not its policy to comment on individual cases until defendants are sentenced.

But he said: “The charity has raised over £200m in the seven-and-a-half to eight years’ existence, an amazing amount of support by the Great British public.

“All our fundraising, other than a tiny amount from the Government, has come from them.”

He added that people taking from such collections “prey on the good will” of the general public.