AN accounts assistant at a Blackburn company devised a method of paying refunds meant for customers into her own bank account.

Blackburn magistrates heard that over a period of three years Joanne Marie Stewart stole more than £28,000 in sums ranging from £50 to £500.

And she later told police she had started stealing from her employers after getting into difficulty with pay day loans.

Stewart, 28, of Anyon Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

She was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced on January 19.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Stewart had been working for Cavalier Carpets in Dixon Street prior to the discovery of the offences.

He job involved handling refunds but in June 2013 she started fabricating dockets and paying the bogus refunds into her own bank account.

"The offences were not discovered until August 2016 by which time she had stolen £28,125," said Mrs Yates.

"She had worked for the company for 10 years."

When she was interviewed by police Stewart said she was having financial difficulties, blaming child care costs, and had taken some pay day loans which she then got behind on.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client had no previous convictions but accepted because of the value of the frauds the case would go to the crown court to be sentenced.

"She fully co-operated with the police and provided them with all the documents to assist them to understand how the fraud took place," said Mr Bakhat.

"She wishes to apologise for her behaviour."