A former racecourse worker was today facing jail after admitting pocketing thousands of pounds in deposits paid by customers in Wolverhampton.

Claire Bampstead worked for the Wolverhampton Racecourse in Dunstall Park for 12 years and since 2002 had been taking bookings and inquiries for functions, Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard.

Yesterday the 35-year-old former restaurant manager of Stafford Road, Fordhouses, wept as she told magistrates she had got into debt which had “spiralled out of control”.

She admitted two counts of theft between October 1 2007 and April 30 2008 of £400 and £1,000.

Bampstead asked for six further counts to be taken into consideration and the total stolen was revealed to be £6,225.

Mrs Sukhi Rai, prosecuting, said: “She was required to resign in April 2008.

“Wolverhampton Racecourse received inquiries from clients about bookings but no records or deposits were found. In each case the client dealt with Miss Bampstead and paid cash.

“They produced receipts issued by her to prove they had made the bookings.”

The court heard Bampstead had no previous convictions.

Bampstead was not represented by a solicitor and defended herself before a bench of magistrates. She said: “I was left by my husband with thousands of pounds worth of debt. It just spiralled completely out of control.

“I had to pay my husband’s debts as well as my own. I know it is unforgivable, what I have done, but I have offered to pay the racecourse back.

“The money I took was not to go on holiday or buy clothes. I know I was put in a position of trust which I abused and I am truly sorry.”

Bampstead said she had informed her boyfriend of the case the day before.

Magistrates warned that the case was so serious it could mean a jail term. She will appear before the court again on December 19 for sentencing.

Wolverhampton Racecourse spokesman Amanda Thomas said: “We do not wish to comment as she is no longer an employee and this is a personal matter for her.”