A GRANDMOTHER who collected money from her partner and his family to pay into a Christmas savings scheme stole more than £3,000 from the fund to pay off huge debts, a court has heard.

Karen Elizabeth Storey collected £25 a week for 40 weeks from her partner of five years, his mother and sister, between January and November last year to pay into a Christmas hamper and voucher saving scheme.

But the 40-year-old from Crook only paid £260 of it into the scheme and stole the rest, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe were told.

Prosecutor Lorraine Cooper said the theft came to light when the family members received vouchers worth a fraction of what they believed they had paid.

They contacted the company running the scheme and were told Storey, who was acting as an agent for the scheme, had only paid £260 into it.

Storey, of Dawson Street, admitted stealing £1,000 from her now ex-partner, £1,000 from his mother and £1,240 from his sister.

The court heard that the extra £240 had been paid into the scheme by a family friend, but that person was reimbursed by Storey’s victims.

In police interview Storey claimed to have debts of £60,000 which is why she stole the money.

Andrew Clinton in mitigation said Storey, a mother of two and grandmother, had planned to get a job and repay the money before anyone realised it had been stolen, but she failed to find work.

In a statement to the court, Storey’s ex partner said he was “disgusted” and “felt sick” while the other victims described themselves as “devastated”, adding: “It beggars belief she has done that to her partner’s mother.”

Ms Cooper said the sister claimed Storey’s theft “ruined Christmas”.

Mr Clinton said Storey, of previous good character, was “an unlikely lady to come to court” and the whole experience had had a big impact on her.

He said: “She was living in hope that when she committed the offence she was going to get a job and repay the money, but unfortunately she is still looking for work.”

Magistrates ordered Storey to pay £3,240 compensation and gave her a 12 month community order with 12 months supervision.