A PUBLIC apology has been issued by a council after one of its employees, a social worker, pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft from vulnerable people.

Lorraine Graves, who is employed by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), initially denied the charges but pleaded guilty on the day her trial was due to start at Cambridge Crown Court last Wednesday.

The 36-year-old, of Glebe Road in Hertford, admitted to stealing thousands of pounds from vulnerable people she cared for.

Colette Wyatt-Lowe, HCC’s cabinet member for adult care and health, said: “We are extremely disappointed in the conduct of this member of staff and express our sincere apologies and sympathy to her victims and their families.

“We take issues of safeguarding very seriously and investigated this matter as soon as it became apparent funds were missing. A casework audit was undertaken and we shared this information and assisted the police with their criminal investigation.

“We immediately undertook an internal audit of financial procedures and our systems were strengthened very shortly after this case came to light.

“We are taking action to resolve her employment position as swiftly as possible. She remains suspended while we carry out this internal disciplinary process.”

Graves is due to be sentenced during the week commencing August 12.