A COUNCIL worker who tried to steal more than £750 from an old people’s centre, has avoided a jail term.

Claire Smart, 30, was working as an administrative assistant at the Laindon Day Centre, in Aston Road, Laindon, when she committed the fraud.

Basildon Magistrates’ Court heard she completed a paying-in slip in the name of another employee at the centre, made out for £752, in April this year and then pretended to be the person in question and tried to cash in the slip.

But she was caught out and arrested by police. She has since been sacked from her job.

Smart of Hereford Walk, Basildon, admitted fraud by false representation when she appeared before magistrates.

She was given a community order under which she must complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months, and was ordered to pay £85 costs.

Smart has since repaid the money to Laindon Day Centre, which provides social events and activities for over-fifties residents. Gerry Levelle, Basildon Council’s head of corporate services, said: “Basildon Council can confirm at the time of the incident Claire Smart was a Council employee, based at Laindon Day Centre as an administrative assistant.

“Basildon Council has a zero tolerance policy to any type of fraud.

“Upon identification of a financial discrepancy, the council immediately instigated its internal investigation procedures.

“It is not council policy to release details of individual investigations undertaken, however, it can be confirmed that the individual is no longer employed by Basildon Council.”