A WOMAN has admitted pocketing money from families who trusted her to order Christmas presents for them.

Sandra Patton, 50, was an agent for Park Retail Ltd, a company that helps people to save for Christmas.

Over a 10-month period, Patton took money from a number families in Shettleston, in Glasgow's east end.

She pretended the money would be paid to Park Retail for goods they had ordered, but instead pocketed the cash totalling £1635.

She pled guilty yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff Court to obtaining the money by fraud between January and October 2010.

Patton, who now lives in Edinburgh, was originally charged with pocketing £4292 but pled guilty to a lesser amount. Sentencing was deferred by sheriff Ian Miller until next month.