Jennifer Colenso, the former treasurer of North Devon Animal Ambulance has admitted to stealing £99,476 from the charity.

Appearing at Barnstaple Magistrate’s Court, Colenso, 69, pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of theft.

In the summer of 2009 the charity's former treasurer Jane Dennis-Smither had been forced to retire due to the failing health of her daughter.

Colenso, who runs her own accountancy consultancy Colenso & Co, took over at that time, agreeing to do all of the accountancy "free-of-charge". But between October 2009 and November 2010 she wrote cheques from the charity to herself and to the HMRC to pay personal tax bills. She also took over £3,500 from public donations and collection boxes.

The money was also used as a loan to North Devon Yacht Club (where she was treasurer at the time) to fit solar panels on its roof. Colenso claimed the money was to pay bills from veterinary practice Market Vets and for investments.

Charity founder Diana Lewis and chair Pauline Bussell grew suspicious after Colenso became guarded over the charity’s accounts. They contacted police in December 2010 which sparked a 12-month investigation resulting in Colenso’s arrest. Ben Windsor, prosecuting said:

"The charity became suspicious when she became defensive when they asked her why she hadn't submitted the charity's accounts to the Charity Commission. She was then asked to relinquish her services and the charity employed an independent accountant who unearthed the frauds."

Colenso will be sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on 5 April. Although she has now paid the money back in full the charity will be looking to reclaim compensation to cover the cost of the accountants’ investigations.

North Devon Animal Ambulance has declined to comment. A police spokesman said the investigation had caused the charity “a huge amount of upset and inconvenience” and it now wanted to concentrate on caring for animals in distress.