A WOMAN has admitted conducting a mass iPad scam worth £450,000.

Kirsty Cox, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, told customers that she would be able to source cut-price iPads for them in the run-up to Christmas.

But after taking payment up front, she was unable to supply the popular tablets.

At Teesside Crown Court today, the 37-year-old pleaded guilty to four charges arising from the scam she had operated between March and December last year.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said three of the charges were in relation to frauds of £14,000, £21,000 and £48,000.

He explained that the fourth one rounded up 23 other charges, which would lie on file, and brought the total fraud to £450,000.

It was previously reported that she had taken payment for £4,000 of the tablet computers from individuals and groups, having offered them at attractive prices.