A WOMAN is facing sentence next month after admitting stealing £27,000 from her employer.

Gillian Burke pleaded guilty to the single count of theft at a recent magistrates’ hearing and the case was committed to Durham Crown Court, to be sentenced.

The charge states that she stole business fees to the value of £27,000 belonging to Home Move Professionals, between June 1, 2018, and July 5, 2019.

Recorder Chris Smith said he believed a background report on the defendant by the Probation Service is necessary to assist the court when she comes to be sentenced.

Her counsel, Kate Barnes, told the court: “It can explore alternatives to a custodial sentence.”

Recorder Smith said: “There are possible alternatives to custody and they have to be explored.”

When he asked if it was necessary to arrange a crime proceeds hearing in the case, Miss Barnes told him: “This lady is on benefits and lives in a council-owned property.”

But Recorder Smith said: ”We’ll have to see what happened to the £27,000.”

He bailed the 54-year-old defendant, of Dorlonco Villas, Meadowfield, near Durham, to return to court for the sentencing hearing on Friday September 24.

As a contingency he also arranged for crime proceeds inquiries into her assets with a view to a confiscation hearing, on Monday December 6.

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