A WOMAN has again appeared in court accused of stealing almost £70,000 from her employers.

Caroline Ashford, 47, was before Huddersfield magistrates yesterday.

Ashford, of Ashlea Close in Brighouse, faces 17 allegations of fraud in relation to her time working for catering company Shaw and Lisle.

The wages clerk is alleged to have made false representations to the firm that previous employees were still employed by the company.

Instead, she allegedly directed the wages into her own bank account.

Ashford faces 16 counts of falsifying wages between March 1, 2009, and November 30, 2010.

She also faces a further charge of fraud by abuse of position.

The 16 amounts she is alleged to have taken fraudulently range from £244.88 to as much as £20,374.93.

Ashford is no longer employed by the Aspley-based company, which specialises in producing high-quality sandwiches.

Her case is due to be heard at Bradford Crown Court.

Magistrates agreed to adjourn her case to allow for court papers to be delivered to the defence.

Ashford will next appear before the court on November 11.

She was granted unconditional bail.