A COUNCIL worker who stole more than £3,000 of taxpayers’ money has walked free from court after a judge heard she was stressed at the time.

Caroline Johnson was said to have been under pressure at work and with her pregnancy, as well as having to care for an older autistic child.

Darlington Borough Council project manager Johnson sobbed in the dock at Teesside Crown Court as details of her dishonesty were made public yesterday.

Johnson led three schemes – Rosemary Court, Mayflower Court and the Railway Cafe at Darlington Railway Museum – which provided work and training for adults with learning difficulties.

Two of the establishments were shops selling food and toiletries, and the cafe later provided buffet meals for outside and internal council organisations.

The 38-year-old had worked for the council for 20 years in various roles. In 1998, she became a “home leader” with control of a number of support workers.

Money received at the shops was routinely taken to the authority’s finance department by other workers, but in early 2008, Johnson said she would do it herself.

By June that year, concerns were expressed about takings, but when Johnson was spoken to, she said it was because of stock wastage and a lack of customers.

The truth emerged when Johnson took holidays and maternity leave towards the end of 2008, and finance officials discovered more than £3,200 had been stolen.

Dan Cordey, in mitigation, said mother-of-two Johnson, of Emerson Way, Newton Aycliffe, was extremely embarrassed and ashamed.

He said: “She is a lady who has lost her good character.

“She worked for the council in different guises for 20 years and never did anything like this. She has lost her job; she has lost the friends she used to have.”

Johnson, who admitted theft between April and December 2008, was given a community order with 18 months of supervision and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Michael Taylor told her: “You are fortunate that the amount taken was not in the sum which would have meant I had to impose a custodial sentence.”

A council spokesperson said: “This outcome demonstrates the council’s zero tolerance approach to fraud.”