A SELF-employed agent for a loan company admitted stealing more than £33,000 from the firm – minutes after denying it.

Steven Angove, 47, initially pleaded not guilty to one charge of theft from Shopacheck Financial Services as well as four fraud charges also involving four customers.

However after Judge Gary Burrell QC noted that he had made “admissions” in a police interview, Angove left the dock and following further discussions with defence barrister Alistair Wright, he asked for an indication of what his sentence would be if he pleaded guilty.

The judge told him that he would receive a maximum of 12 months and Angove then admitted all five charges.

Prosecutor Jennie Rickman told the city crown court how Angove had made four bogus applications for loans totalling £900.

Angove, of Thirlmere Road, Southampton, was bailed to February 5 for sentence.