A SERVING police officer trusted Jill Parkinson with her house keys and personal papers while she went on holiday, a court heard.

But the trust was misplaced as Parkinson went on a £2,900 spending spree using her friend's credit card details.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Parkinson had also stolen nearly £13,000 from Supernet Ltd, of Burnley, when she worked there providing maternity cover between September and December 1999.

Parkinson, 27, of Preston Road, Clayton-le Woods, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft from her employer -- the charges had originally gone before Burnley magistrates but were then remitted to Blackburn -- and four of obtaining property by deception with three taken into consideration.

District judge Jonathon Finestein committed her on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence and warned that a custodial sentence was a distinct possibility.