A £62,000-a-year council boss responsible for organising an annual pop festival has admitted embezzling thousands of pounds of taxpayers' cash.

Tom Leighton, 48, was Falkirk Council's head of leisure services, Falkirk Sheriff Court was told and his position meant he could authorise payments for services by third parties.

Kirsten Cockburn, prosecuting, said Leighton's line manager Maureen Campbell became suspicious of a payment made to a "Mrs Gardiner" in Galashiels.

The depute fiscal said the council worker knew Leighton lived in the Borders. "She wondered why he should pay anyone there," said Miss Cockburn.

Ms Campbell decided to contact Mrs Gardiner, who turned out to be Leighton's mother-in-law. She added: "This led to an internal audit at Falkirk and various other payments came to light."

Leighton, of Selkirk, pleaded guilty on indictment to embezzling £27,152 between October 2006 and May 2009.

Sheriff William Gallacher told Leighton: " You abused a position of trust." He deferred sentence for background reports.