A DOMESTIC worker spent almost £10,000 using an elderly client's cheques, a court heard.

Amanda Pallister, 37, was employed by an agency as a cleaner and to perform domestic duties.

Among the premises where she worked was the home of an 87-year-old woman, who was partially-sighted.

She used cheques from the elderly woman's account for her own purposes, for sums ranging from £99.56 to £1,300, totaling £9,976.80, over more than a year.

Pallister, of Park House Gardens, Sherburn Village, admitted 15 counts, brought under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act, of making a false instrument, with the intention that the bank would accept it as genuine.

The charges relate to 15 cheques used on dates between May 2005 and June last year.

Pallister pleaded guilty at a magistrates' hearing in January, but the North Durham Bench sent the case to Durham Crown Court for sentence, because of the sums involved.

At yesterday's scheduled sentencing hearing, Jennifer Haigh, prosecuting, requested a further adjournment to allow an inquiry to be made into Pallister's financial affairs and her ability to pay compensation.

Miss Haigh said the Crown Prosecution Service would be applying for confiscation and compensation orders. She said Pallister has repaid £1,400, leaving a shortfall to the bank of £8,576.

Recorder William Lowe agreed, and told Pallister: "It's almost cruel to suspend sentence, but whoever deals with the confiscation and compensation matters must also deal with the sentence."

Pallister's barrister, Richard Canning, made no objection to the delay, and she was bailed to return for the sentence and confiscation hearing, on June 21.