3 March 2011 Last updated at 10:38 ET

Aberdeenshire social worker jailed over Peterhead fraud

A woman who defrauded Aberdeenshire Council while she was a social worker to furnish her home with goods intended for the needy has been jailed.

Jennifer Stephen, 47, admitted cheating the local authority out of more than £8,000.

Purchase orders were used to obtain goods that should have been given to social work clients.

Stephen, who was earlier sacked, was jailed for 28 months at Peterhead Sheriff Court.

Defence agent John Adam said Stephen could not explain why she embezzled the money.

Sheriff Marysia Lewis told the mother-of-four the offence had brought "shame" on her family.

She said prison was the only option.