AN Ipswich bank was swindled out of more than £2,000 by a 41-year-old woman and her partner.Sharon Hodgson admitted at Ipswich Crown Court that she stole the money from the HSBC Bank in Tavern Street by forging cheques of around £200 a time.

AN Ipswich bank was swindled out of more than £2,000 by a 41-year-old woman and her partner.

Sharon Hodgson admitted at Ipswich Crown Court that she stole the money from the HSBC Bank in Tavern Street by forging cheques of around £200 a time.

Hodgson of Alexander Road, Colchester, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, 10 counts of forgery, 10 counts of using a false instrument (cheques) and one count of obtaining money by deception.

Hodgson admitted 16 other similar offences and asked that they be taken into consideration.

Hugh Vass, prosecuting, said Hodgson was of previous good character until a year ago when she was ordered to do unpaid work after admitting obtaining money by deception and theft.

He said Hodgson's partner, 45-year-old Honorato Cristovao, was sentenced in November after pleading guilty to the same offences as Hodgson.

Cristovao was jailed for nine months.

Peter Fenn, mitigating for Hodgson, said four of his client's guilty pleas for using a false instrument were offences which involved her forging cheques and Cristovao cashing them at the bank.

Judge John Devaux ordered a pre-sentence report and told Hodgson she would be sentenced during the week commencing February 3. Hodgson was remanded in custody until then.