AN ACCOUNTANT who plundered thousands from a firm she was working for has been released on bail by a judge.

Noreen Chaudhry was acting as a pay roll manager at Calne company Acklea when she stole from them.

The 50-year-old old made fraudulent payments using the electronic BACS system to steal from the firm over a three year period.

Chaudhry, of Weedon Road, Swindon, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and false accounting.

She admitted taking the money between the middle of May 2010 and Wednesday July 3 last year when she appeared before magistrates.

But a judge at Swindon Crown Court said her sentencing will have to wait until after the trials of her husband and children, who are accused of money laundering.

Shabir Hussain, 52, Shabana Hussain, 28, and Humzah Hussain, 21, all face three allegations of dishonesty between November 2011 and January last year.

No charges were formally put to the three and they did not enter any pleas. Recorder James Watson QC adjourned the case to Friday, May 2 when they are due to enter their pleas and released them on unconditional bail.

Acklea is a traffic management company based in Calne.