A MARKET company boss has admitted stealing money from her employer.

Joanne Price, 38, was yesterday warned that she could be jailed when she returns to court to be sentenced next month after she changed her plea to guilty to two of seven allegations of theft.

The former Durham Markets Company manager previously denied all seven charges, said to have taken place between January 1 and November 27, last year.

Amounts alleged to have been taken by her from the company, which operates Durham’s 150-year-old awardwinning indoor market, ranged from £35 to £7,824, totalling £9,285.

Some of the money said to have been taken by Price were rent payments by market stall-holders.

But, with the case listed for a trial due to start at Durham Crown Court yesterday, Price’s barrister, Yvonne Taylor, asked if two of the seven charges could be put to her again.

Price changed her plea to guilty to stealing £7,824, between May 1 and 31, last year, and £75 on November 27.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said: “Those pleas are considered acceptable to the Crown. They have been the subject of full consultation and in the light of today’s pleas, it is not considered to be in the public interest to pursue the remaining counts.

“In due course, we will ask for the other five counts to lie on the file.”

Mrs Taylor requested preparation of pre-sentence reports on Price by the Probation Service prior to her return to court in three weeks.

She also asked if her bail could be extended until the sentencing hearing.

Recorder Andrew Campbell agreed and told Price: “You have pleaded guilty to two acts of dishonesty involving breaches of trust and these are, of course, serious matters.

“I will not be sentencing you, but the learned judge who does may well consider a custodial sentence.

“I’m prepared to enlarge your bail until you return for sentence, but in doing so it must not be taken by you as any indication as to what the outcome will be.”

Price, of Newhouse Road, Esh Winning, County Durham, will be sentenced on November 18.