AN employee of a scrap dealer stole £61,560 from the company in under 14 months, playing a part in the demise of the long-standing family business, a court heard.

Victoria Louise Bell was working as an administrative assistant for Lister Scrap Metals, in Consett, at the time, in 2014 and 2015.

Appearing at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court, Bell, of Welford Road, Consett, admitted theft.

The court heard that during that time she was the partner of the company boss’s son, helping out on an occasional basis, managing company finances.

Liam O’Brien, prosecuting, said she was completing e-transfers, but marking them with the reference “cheque”, to give the appearance of cheques being paid out by the company.

Mr O’Brien said: “It was only when paperwork was given to the accountant to wind up the business that the discrepancies were noticed.

“It was the breach of a high degree of trust and fairly sophisticated, resulting in this family-run business, which has been in operation since 1920, having to fold.”

Lorraine Mustard, representing the defendant, told the court that she is heavily pregnant and due to give birth in about four weeks.

She asked for preparation of a background report on Bell, by the Probation Service, prior to sentence.

Miss Mustard told the court: “She’s 29, living in private rented accommodation, and is of previous good character.

“There has been a background of a degree of emotional turmoil which created, ‘a perfect storm’, which may have led to this.

“She began to work at Lister’s scrap yard in 2014, to help out, after she had been in long-term employment for a plastic moulding company as a quality inspector.”

But Miss Mustard said Bell began to devote more time to looking after her seriously ill mother, prior to her death in June 2014, which led to that previous employment being terminated.

Miss Mustard said the defendant “takes issue” with the prosecution suggestion that the scrap business’s closure was purely down to her actions.

She told the court that she understands the business was sold.

“By inference, therefore, and, on paper, at least, as, ‘a viable option’.”

Judge Christopher Prince adjourned the hearing until January 27, after the anticipated birth of Bell’s child, to allow for an up-dated statement from Mr Lister as to the exact effect of her theft on his business.

Bailing Bell, Judge Prince added: “All sentencing options, including custody, remain open to the court.”