Manager admits £38,000 theft

A Shropshire medical centre practice manager today admitted stealing more than £38,000 from her employers. Brenda Ward admitted five charges of theft.The 53-year-old fiddled travel expenses, salary payments and overtime payments from Wem and Prees Medical Centre over a two-year period, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told today.

Ward, of Wemsbrook Road, Wem, was warned she faces jail when she is sentenced next month.

The offences took place between March 31, 2005 and June 1, 2007, while she was practice manager at the surgery, which has premises in New Street, Wem, and Walford House, Prees. She has since left the post.

Ward admitted stealing £38,493.30 by fiddling expenses claimed from the practice. She admitted stealing £499.82 by fiddling travel expenses, £3,300.88 in overclaiming overtime payments and a further £860 in travel expenses.

Ward also admitted falsely claiming £25,702.60 in overtime payments and £8,130 in salary payments she was not entitled to.

Sentencing on Ward was adjourned until next month for the completion of reports. Mr Recorder Paul Farrer QC said: "This theft is in breach of your employers' trust. "You must be prepared for a sentence of immediate imprisonment."

Ward was released on bail.

Mr Max Bennett, prosecuting, said the theft had an "aggravating factor" because Ward had a similar conviction for theft dating back to the early 1990s.

Mr Farrer said he would deal with a confiscation order to try to reclaim some of the stolen money at next month's sentencing.