A Powys woman has admitted defrauding the building company that she worked for as a wages clerk.

Ann Jones is accused of taking almost £127,000 over a three-year period from Jim Dorricott Construction Ltd in Shrewsbury.

At a hearing at Shrewsbury Crown Court this week, Jones, 58, pleaded guilty to fraud, but offered a basis of plea that she did not take the full amount of money alleged by the prosecution.

It is claimed that Jones took £126,892 between March 2013 and May 2016 while working as an account manager.

Jones, of Heritage Way, Llanymynech, also claims that she was coerced by her 35-year-old son Craig Smith to fund his drug and alcohol addiction.

Smith pleaded guilty to acting together with his mother to acquire criminal property – £33,774 in cash – but he does not accept that his mother was coerced.

The basis of plea of both defendants was not accepted by the prosecution and the case was adjourned until April 6 when a judge will hear evidence to determine the facts before sentence.

Smith, of Balfour Close, Northampton, and Jones were both allowed bail.