A South Hams mum has admitted to stealing thousands of pounds from a preschool over a period six months.

Helen Woodgate, 40, of Littlegate, Loddiswell, pleaded guilty to three charges at Plymouth Crown Court last Friday.

She admitted stealing £18,861.79 from Loddiswell Preschool between February and August 2017, although her defence barrister stated she contests the amount, saying she only stole £15,000, as £3,000 was a salary that she was entitled to.

The mother of two children also admitted producing false or misleading documents, namely bank statements, and creating false business accounts to make a gain.

The case was adjourned to consider the basis of her plea and prepare pre-sentence reports. Her bail was renewed.

Judge Johnson told Woodgate she had admitted to “serious” crimes and that the “starting point would be a custodial sentence”.

He said that until her plea she had had “no previous convictions” and she would receive full credit for her guilty plea, as she had indicated she would plead guilty at the lower court. She is due to be sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on Friday, June 29.