A WORCESTER travel company worker who stole more than £20,000 from her employers is to return to court because a judge is still not satisfied as to how she spent the money.

Mother-of-two Sandra Colman, aged 67, of Tolladine Road, Worcester, pleaded guilty to taking the money from holiday booking voucher firm Discover Travel and Tours when she appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Monday.

Recorder Graham Cliff said then he did not accept her claim that she had spent the money on everyday bills and adjourned the case until Thursday for more evidence.

Colman carried out 13 separate transactions over six months, transferring £23, 400 into her personal bank account before quitting her job.

At the renewed hearing, Richard Bond, defending, presented evidence of debts to banks and building societies on her behalf which he said had been paid with the money.

In February, 2011, he said, she was £36,000 in debt, including loans from HSBC Bank, Birmingham Midshires Building Society and money owed to American Express but it had now mostly been cleared.

"She says she spent the money on general day to day living," he told the court.

"She got to a stage where she was unable to pay, debt agencies were involved, her relationship was falling apart and that's why this lady of previous impeccably good character suddenly started taking money from her employers."

He said her finances were in such a mess it all went into "one large pot".

But Recorder Graham Cliff said there must be more documentation which showed where the money was spent. He said Colman did not own her own house and had no security for the loans.

"You have put forward a lot of information at a late stage and I am not satisfied we have got to the bottom of your financial situation," he told her.

"I need to know why the loans were raised, how they were raised and what security was given. Until then, we are in limbo."

He adjourned the case for 28 days to allow for more information to be provided.