A Redditch mother-of-two stole £23,326 from the insurance company where she worked after finding a loophole in its banking system, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Donna Morris, a customer services adviser with Britannic Assurance, spent cash on holidays and presents for her family after directing cash into four different bank accounts.

Morris, aged 32, of Petton Close, Winyates, was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to eight offences of obtaining property by deception with 15 similar offences taken into consideration.

She began work for Britannic in January last year and was sacked in November after discrepancies were discovered, said Alex Warren, prosecuting.

Her job was to arrange payment for surrendered insurance policies but she became aware of a deficiency in the banking system. She reported it but then took advantage by diverting money to four family accounts.

Mr Warren said £9,012 was paid into her account, £3,008 into her husband's, £4,002 into her sister's and £7,303 into the account of her 14-year-old son. She lied that they were bonuses she had received.

She told police she had paid off mortgage arrears and spent money on presents for her family and on three holidays to Tunisia and the Canary Islands.

Brett Stevenson, defending, said she had no previous convictions and had paid back £4,000 on some policies. She had written to the company offering to pay back the balance but had no job after breaking her ankle.

He added she had spotted the clerical error and had fallen to temptation to provide a better standard of life for her family.

But Judge John Cavell described her actions as "an abuse of trust" by taking advantage of a loophole in the system during six months of dishonesty.