A former charity finance officer has admitted stealing £35,000 from the organisation.

Carole Ferguson, 60, was formerly employed by Citizens Advice Bureau in Musselburgh, Scotland and embezzled the funds from the charity’s bank account between January 2015 and 2019.

Ferguson, of Prestonpans, East Lothian, was initially charged with stealing more than £70,000 between 2015 and 2021 but pleaded guilty to an amended charge of defrauding the charity out of £35,000 at a hearing on 18 April in Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Ferguson was responsible for the charity’s finances and had access to its bank account.

An internal investigation by the charity in November 2020 uncovered Ferguson’s wrongdoing after she used false expenses to cover up her crimes.

She will be sentenced on 12 May.

Citizens Advice declined to comment on the case at this time.