A BOOK-KEEPER who defrauded a small garage business of more than £32,000, almost drove it to the wall, a court heard.

Paula Kitching was trusted to oversee the finances of Louis Smith Motors, in Staindrop, County Durham, but in little more than two years she almost caused the vehicle repair business, run by a family friend, to fold.

The business’s former secretary is now facing a potential prison sentence, despite being wheelchair-bound following surgery for a non-malignant brain tumour.

She appeared via video link to Durham Crown Court, from Teesside Magistrates’ Court, the only court centre in the North-East able to cater for custodial cases involving wheelchair users.

Kitching, 38, of Van Mildert Road, Newton Aycliffe, admitted six counts of fraud, covering the various methods she used to take the money, while working for the business, between December 2012 and February 2015.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said it was only after she tendered her resignation that her activities came to light, when HM Revenue and Customs informed owner Brian Atkinson that the company tax returns had not been submitted on time and the business was fined £1,000.

Inquiries revealed Kitching altered amounts she had supposedly paid into the company bank account, keeping the shortfall herself, made payments into her own accounts from the business, awarded herself “refunds” from the company credit card, and overpaid herself by more than £5,000.

She was arrested in March 2015 and gave no replies to police questioning.

In a victim statement read to the court, Mr Atkinson said her actions nearly resulted in the winding up of the business, which employs three people.

Simon Walker, for Kitching, said she was the sole family breadwinner and struggled financially.

As a neurologist’s report into her present, post-surgery, medical condition, was incomplete, Judge Christopher Prince adjourned passing sentence to allow the missing information to be passed to the court.

He told Mr Walker: “This case will be adjourned until we have an updated medical report so I know whether or not Mrs Kitching is going to serve a custodial sentence.”

She was bailed to return to Teesside Magistrates Court for sentencing, next week.