AN Oaksey sub postmistress who fiddled accounts to cover up the disappearance of more than £11,000 was ordered to carry out 200 hours' community service.

Solicitor Andrew Watts-Jones pleaded with magistrates not to send Colleen Willis, 41, of Bendy Bow, to prison for fear she might commit suicide.

He told Chippenham magistrates on Monday she had a terminally-ill husband, and two teenage children at home who relied on her. She had also taken medication for depression.

Willis had pleaded guilty on October 16 to two charges of false accounting on August 19 1998 and between January 26 and 28 1999. Sentencing had been adjourned for reports.

She admitted a further 22 allegations of false accounting, which magistrates took into consideration.

Paul Seaton, acting for the Post Office, said Willis was appointed sub post mistress in March 1998. She had largely run the post office under the authority of Valerie Price before then.

She gave in her notice in October 1998, and handed over the keys on February 4, having suffered a nervous breakdown.

An audit revealed discrepancies in the paperwork. Money amounting to £11,432 was missing and the losses had been hidden by falsifying the accounts.

She was arrested by Chippenham police on August 15 this year.

She admitted to police she had falsified the accounts but insisted she had not personally stolen the missing money. She declined to say who had.

Mr Watts-Jones, speaking for Willis, said the offences had developed over a period of time.

Her husband was rushed to hospital in 1997 suffering two collapsed lungs, and was diagnosed with a terminal condition.

Then in April 1998 she noticed funds were going missing from the post office part of the business but tried to cover it up by falsifying accounts .

"She did not know what was happening, or who had taken it. She has some ideas but she is not forthcoming about this," said Mr Watts-Jones.

Then she discovered her husband was having an affair with her best friend.

"Her whole world crashed down upon her and she started to suffer depression," he said.

Magistrates made a Community Service Order of 200 hours for each of the two offences, to run concurrently.

Willis was also ordered to play £2,000 compensation to the Post Office and £80 towards costs.