AN Earley woman has admitted to being part of a recruitment scam where she falsely claimed to be helping people get back into work.

Nikki Foster, of High Tree Drive, admitted to eight counts of fraud and one of conspiracy after three years of working for A4e - a £1.3m Government back-to-work initiative.

From 2008 to 2011 she falsely claimed she had found work for the recruitment firm's clients, whom either did not exist or had actually been employed.

The now 31-year-old would then accept the financial incentives for hitting her recruitment targets.

Foster is part of a group of 10 people who either admitted to or were found guilty of committing a range of fraud, forgery and conspiracy charges following a 13-week trial at Reading Crown Court.

Legal restrictions have prevented Foster's guilty plea from being reported until the end of the trial.

Detective inspector Gavin Tyrrell from the Thames Valley Police’s Economic Crime Unit said: “This has been a long and highly complex investigation and so we are pleased that it has resulted in a positive outcome here at court.

“Together, these ten people acted dishonestly to abuse a scheme which was designed to help those who had been out of work for long periods and were trying to find jobs in what was a very difficult employment climate.

"Financial rewards had been introduced in order to help that process and these defendants took advantage of that for their own personal gain."

The group will be sentenced on March 30.