stealing from the Pembroke Parish Council, which was giving her financial assistance.

Rhonda Pereira, 33, admitted 11 counts involving the theft of a total of $3,250 from the Council by forging and uttering cheques.

She obtained the cash by forging her landlord's signature on the back of several $650 rent assistance cheques -- which had been made out to him -- and then did not pay any rent with it.

Duty counsel Mr. Stephen Hankey said Pereira had suffered from polio since she was a child and had had a hard time finding work.

He said she was unemployed at the time of the offences and owed two friends money so she "robbed Peter to pay Paul''.

"She was very shaken up by her experience with the Police,'' he said, adding her mother had offered to help her pay back the money.

The Wor. John Judge said he would sentence Pereira to community service but also ordered a social inquiry report. She will appear for sentencing in three weeks.