FORMER dinner lady Vicki Richardson has admitted taking money from the till at Swindon's Dorcan Technology College.

Swindon Crown Court heard that single mum Richardson, 31, took out cash with the intention of paying it back but was rumbled when takings didn't add up in an audit.

She admitted a single charge of false accounting on or about October 31, 2001.

Giving her unconditional bail, the recorder, Mr Jonathan Acton Davis QC, adjourned the case for sentencing until May 2.

He ordered a pre-sentence report and said all sentencing options were open, including the possibility of custody.

Richardson declined to comment as she left court.

Prosecuting, Ian Halliday said Richardson maintained she had no intention of permanently depriving the college of the money.

"She appears to have been using the till as her own piggy bank to finance a trip to the shop as and when she was short of money," he said.

"There has been some attempt in the past to repay money that had been taken out."

Defending, Nathan Palmer said Richardson, of Islandsmead, Eldene, was a woman of good character who had been in a position of some trust.

"She became catering manager after the previous manager left," he said. "She maintains she was not properly trained. She now works full-time at a Co-operative supermarket, working 39 hours a week.

"A cheque was written to the local authority at the time she handed in her resignation, in the region of a £650 sum."

A spokesman for Swindon Borough Council said he was unable to comment on individual cases.