Agency worker at Featherstone Prison pocketed thousands after submitting false time sheets

Michelle Moore, 47, continued to submit falsified time sheets even after receiving a £57,000 divorce settlement. She blamed the breakdown in her marriage for the deception.

Moore had previously worked at Featherstone for eight years employed by the Prison Service but moved to Spain two years prior to the offences. When she returned, she was offered shifts as a temporary support worker by agency Hays.

She admitted eight counts of fraud at Cannock Magistrates Court. The crimes took place between January and November 2014.

Mr Adam Warner, prosecuting, said: "She submitted work time sheets to the payroll department and these included the name and signature of a HMP representative resulting in payments being made to her of £5,778 net, £8,504 gross - minus tax and national insurance.

"It was really an inept series of transactions. She used a blank time sheet with the name and signature of a person who had left the employment of the prison some time before. It was easy to trace the problem."

He said the sheets had been photocopied and the defendant, of Leacroft Road, Penkridge, filled in the details wrongly listing the extra hours.

Mr Paul Lamb, defending, told the court Moore was remorseful and more than willing to repay her ill-gotten gains.

District Judge Mr Jack McGarva jailed her for 26 weeks suspended for two years. He also ordered Moore to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and to pay £5,778 compensation to Hays within 28 days.

"You have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity of eight offences of fraud. This is a very serious matter. You were in a position of trust and the very nature of your employment exacerbates that. It was also committed over a long period and involved the falsifying of a number of documents," he said.

"Hays whom employed you will have suffered a significant loss as a result of your dishonesty. I accept that your world had been turned upside down. The sentencing guidelines have a starting point of a substantial custodial sentence. I do feel able to step back from that because of your lack of previous convictions and your early guilty plea."

Moore must also pay £100 costs and victims' surcharge of £85.