A TEENAGER stole more than £2,000 from her solicitor employers and attempted to take thousands more, in what magistrates yesterday branded a "very, very serious" breach of trust.

Aimie Morrell, 19, a temporary worker at McArdles solicitors in Darlington, spent the £2,500 she swindled on alcohol and drugs for herself and a group of friends.

Magistrates warned her she may face a prison sentence for stealing the money, which she got by forging her boss's signature on a cheque.

Morrell also admitted trying to steal a further £4,350, but was caught out after the practice's accountants queried the cheque, which was made out in Morrell's name and was paid into her personal bank account.

Darlington Magistrates Court heard Morrell, of Stephenson Way, Newton Aycliffe, took the money in July "for a laugh".

The court was also told how Geoff Cardwell, a partner in the town's Duke Street practice, realised from a photocopy of the cheques that the signature looked similar to his, but knew he had not authorised them.

It was then discovered that a cheque book had gone missing from a secure drawer in the office, and police were called.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said Morrell confessed to police, and implicated unnamed friends in the scam.

"She said she had taken the cheque book for a laugh, and friends she would not name signed the cheque as she could not do her employer's signature," she said.

"She then stated she got the same friend to write out another cheque because she enjoyed spending money.

"The defendant knew she had obtained property by deception and knew that was a criminal offence, as was forging her employer's signature."

John Hardesty, mitigating, acknowledged the offences were very serious, but appealed for magistrates to read background reports before sentencing Morrell. He conceded: "In a case such as this, where a serious breach of trust is involved, the question of custody is unavoidable."

Adjourning sentencing until September 28 at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court, magistrates warned a prison sentence was a distinct possibility.

Head of the bench John Welsh told Morrell: "This breach of trust is a very, very serious offence."