A woman who worked for Sussex Police stole nearly £10,000 in wages she had not earned.

Katie Sanders, worked in the human resources department at force headquarters in Lewes.

Hove Crown Court was told that the 29-year-old got the job through recruitment agency Adecco.

Her wages were paid by the agency which then claimed them back from Sussex Police.

Ryan Richter, prosecuting, said Sanders was considered unreliable and frequently e-mailed in sick.

She was sacked in July last year but continued to claim wages from the agency by changing dates on copies of time sheets that had already been signed until January this year.

Sanders, of Colbourne Road, Brighton, admitted five charges of fraud and asked for 17 similar offences totalling £9,611 to be taken into consideration.

Rebecca Upton, defending, said Sanders had no previous convictions and had admitted what she had done as soon as she was caught.

Miss Upton said Sanders suffered from anxiety attacks and was unable to leave her home.

She told the court that after she got away with the wages fiddle once, she continued to falsify her time sheets until she was caught in January this year.

Miss Upton added that Sanders had sought help for mental health problems and was considered vulnerable and in need of further help.

She said: “At the time she was in financial difficulties and did not want to borrow more money from her family.

“She is ashamed and sorry for the embarrassment that she has caused her family.

“It will now not be very easy for her to get another job in the current climate because of this conviction.”

Sanders was given a six month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Judge Anthony Niblett said: “You have pleaded guilty to serious offences of dishonesty.

“It amounted to a breach of trust and a total losses of over £9,000. These offences clearly pass the custody threshold.

“However you made no attempt to avoid your responsibility and immediately admitted your guilt.

“I accept that you are truly sorry for what you did.”