A former finance manager has admitted stealing almost £190,000 from Keswick School.

Ghislain Sharron Smithson, 52, who worked at the school for a decade until 2018 when she left, entered a guilty plea to the single theft charge during a brief appearance today before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court.

She now faces a possible jail sentence.

The defendant, of Sandybeck Way, Cockermouth, admitted stealing "in the region of £188,000."

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson said police believe that the theft began as early as 2012, but the Crown Prosecution Service was willing to accept the defendant's guilty plea, entered on the basis that Smithson began stealing from the school two years later in 2014.

The original charge states that she stole the money between 2012 and June of 2018.

The court heard that some of the allegations were around foreign currency transactions, though details were not revealed.

Defence barrister Judith McCullough told Judge Nicholas Barker: "This lady is a lady of hitherto good character."

The barrister asked the judge for time to prepare background report on Smithson.

The judge told the defendant:"You have pleaded guilty to this charge of theft and I know that you will have been well advised by Ms McCullough as to the range of sentences available to this court."

An earlier hearing was told the defendant had worked as a finance manager at the school from 2008 to 2018. She was said to have used the school bank account to pay for holidays and had used “fake voices” when making payments.

She was also accused of using the school’s credit card for personal use and to book rooms at the Premier Inn without the school’s permission.

After today's hearing, the judge advised the defendant to prepare herself for her sentencing hearing on Tuesday of next week.

The offence can attract a sentence of around three and a half years.