SHE was placed in a position of trust - in charge of thousands of pounds to help youngsters in one of Hampshire's most deprived areas.

As treasurer of the local pre- school Serina Weeks helped herself to thousand of pounds from its funds using some of it to go on a foreign holiday.

The 34-year-old's crimes over a year even resulted in school trips being cancelled and equipment not being renewed.

Weeks was initially employed as a voluntary helper at Oaktrees Pre-School, which is attached to Mason Moor Primary School in Millbrook, Southampton, and run by committee members, but was appointed treasurer in 2005.

Her deceit was discovered in September 2006 when the school was looking for another member of staff. She was asked about the state of the finances but said there was insufficient cash to take another person on.

Sarah Dineley, prosecuting at the city crown court, said they considered that "strange" and when they asked for the accounts, she said they were unavailable.

At a meeting the following day, she again tried to "fob them off" and gave the same excuse.

However she admitted to some she had written out three cheques amounting to £1,100 which she had used to pay bills, for food and for her children.

In interview with the police she admitted she could not remember how much money she had taken or when.

Ms Dineley said the committee arranged for an audit which revealed a deficit of more than £13,000 through cheque-related and petty cash theft.

The loss of money had caused trips to be cancelled and equipment not being being renewed.

"The school could also not provide the little extras that would have gone to these children from a deprived background," Ms Dineley said. "A lot of parents are upset their money has been diverted away from their children."

Weeks, of Langrish Road, Southampton, admitted theft and received an eight month suspended sentence coupled with 200 hours community service. She was also told to pay full compensation at the rate of £10 a week.

Judge John Boggis QC said she was only being spared an immediate custodial sentence because of prison overcrowding and because of her young daughter. "Clearly this is a case of a breach of trust and is absolutely appalling."

Referring to her basis of plea, the judge said Weeks claimed she had not used the cash to enjoy an inflated lifestyle.

The judge said: "I'm not sure about that last comment but you managed to get yourself a holiday to Gran Canaria. You took the money from a school providing help in a deprived area, from children and from families hard up and which might bring some colour and happiness to their lives."

In mitigation, Sarah Jones described how she had used the cash to pay off debts she had incurred at the breakdown of her marriage and also used it so support her family.

"She is very ashamed at what she has done and even when she was doing it, but with the thefts not being discovered, she carried on. It was financial desperation and to which she should not have succumbed. She was only trying to keep her family's head above water."

A spokesman for Oaktrees Pre-School said: "The management committee of the pre-school are happy and relieved that finally justice has been done.

"Children, parents and staff suffered greatly because of Mrs Weeks's theft. We intend to put this behind us and move forward, in providing an excellent pre-school education."