A THIEVING council worker's dark past was not detected when she was hired because details had been wiped from national records.

Sarah Gardner was taken on as a finance officer by Salford council via an agency.

In five months as a temporary worker last year, she stole £31,115 from the dead and sick by abusing her position. Yet six years earlier, she had been given a police caution for diverting customer refunds to her own account while working as a temporary officer for British Gas in Royton, Oldham.

At Manchester Crown Court Gardner, 28, was given a one year prison sentence after pleading guilty to three charges of theft and one of deception while working for Salford.

It was suspended for 12 months, but Gardner, who was living in Bolton at the time of the offences, must also complete 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Mark Benson, prosecuting, said Gardner had received a police caution in June 2000. But he added: "The police national computer operated a weeding out system after five years in certain circumstances.

"So where someone was of previous good character and only had that caution, it was weeded out."

Ceased

Mr Benson said the weeding out system had ceased to operate since September last year.

But when the case involving Salford council was being prepared by the Crown Prosecution Service, Gardner appeared to have no criminal convictions. However, she mentioned the caution to police when she was interviewed.

Gardner's barrister, Katherine Pierpoint, revealed the existence of the caution in court and said: "It was the defence that introduced it - and it was she (Gardner) who told police about it."

Part of Gardner's job was administering the records of people in care or who had died. She had access to some bank accounts and took more than £31,000.

She used it to clear debts and those of her sister, and for her sister's college fees. But her sister was unaware of where it came from.

Sentencing Gardner, who now lives in Lincolnshire, Recorder Barry Searle said "I accept that you are ashamed of your behaviour and your remorse is entirely genuine."

After the case, Anne Williams, Salford council's director of adult services, said: "These were horrible offences that preyed on families and individuals who were vulnerable."