A SOLICITOR who admitted cheating clients of more than £16,000 could face jail.

Nicola Campbell, a former partner at Windeatts Solicitors in Kingsbridge, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court and pleaded guilty to fraud.

The 47-year-old, who lives in Totnes, altered details on cheques.

The charges state she acted against the financial interests of two people and, instead of safeguarding their interests, abused her position to gain more than £7,000.

Campbell also admitted two more frauds involving sums of £6,400 and £2,500.

Unconditional bail has been granted until she is sentenced on May 11 following a probation service report.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC warned her that all options, including jail, remain open to the sentencing judge.

Solicitor and Windeatts partner Nigel Butt said in a statement to the Gazette: 'It is fair to say that everybody at Windeatts feels severely let down by what Mrs Campbell has done. She occupied a position of trust, as all solicitors do, and has abused that trust in the most appalling fashion.

'Fortunately, we were able to discover, quite rapidly, what was going on and carried out an immediate investigation and then, as soon as the circumstances became clear, we informed the police.'

Mr Butt added: 'It is crucial that the public appreciate that solicitors such as Mrs Campbell are few and far between and that once any such activity is discovered other members of the profession will do everything they can to ensure they are brought before the courts and punished accordingly.

'No client has suffered any financial losses as a result of her dishonesty although it is hugely regrettable that she has not troubled herself to seek to pay back even a penny of the £16,000 or so that she stole.

'We hope that the sentence that is eventually imposed upon her will ensure that she both serves a sufficiently long sentence to mark the serious breach of trust that has occurred, and that she is ordered to pay back everything she stole.'