A SENIOR court manager has been charged with £21,600 fraud and theft from her employer in Dorchester.

Janet Denise Taylor, of Park Estate Road, Portland, appeared at South Somerset and Mendip Magistrates Court in Yeovil.

The 49-year-old was charged with 10 counts of fraud by abuse of position and one of theft by an employee in Dorchester over a period of more than two years.

She was accused of abusing her position as senior court manager with the HM Court and Tribunal Service in Dorchester.

Taylor was previously based as a clerk with the court service at the crown court in Dorchester at Colliton Park. Prosecutor Alex Lane said that Taylor was employed as a court manager.

He added that the alleged total amount in the case is approximately £21,600, of which £900 was cash. Each count of fraud relates to a single sum of money ranging from £975 to £3,200.

The alleged fraud offences took place on 10 separate occasions ranging from March 2010, throughout last year and continuing up to May this year.

The theft offence allegedly took place between March and May this year and allegedly involved £910 cash.

Taylor did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm her name and address at the magistrates court hearing.

She was released on unconditional bail and ordered to appear at Taunton Crown Court at a date to be confirmed.

Magistrate Angus McPhee told Taylor: “This is not suitable for a summary trial and it will be committed to crown court.

“You will be committed for the 11 offences we have heard today.

“You have to appear at court on the day of your trial and in the meantime you are released on unconditional bail.”