Sub-postmistress Margery Williams admits stealing from Llanddaniel post office
A woman who ran a sub-post office and shop on Anglesey - reopened after villagers paid £15 each to buy the building - has admitted stealing £14,600.
Margery Williams, 45, of Llanddaniel, admitted fraud against the Post Office at Caernarfon Crown court.
Her counsel said she had been "robbing Peter to pay Paul".
The judge adjourned sentencing while Williams tries to remortgage her house to repay the cash.
The court heard an audit in June last year uncovered four months of offending.
Defence counsel Elen Owen said the village had a small but vibrant community.
"There hasn't been a shop there for some time and the local community came together and raised money," she said.
"Each villager paid £15 and a grant from a local enterprise allowance scheme allowed the community to buy the building to provide a hub for the village."
She said the community, through a committee, decided to release the shop and Williams began to run the shop and post office.
"The expectations of her family and the community were on her shoulders to make this a successful enterprise. She felt the weight of those expectations greatly," she added.
The barrister added that Williams was paid £100 a week by the Post Office and earned £319 a month, and had a grace and favour home as warden of sheltered accommodation for the elderly.
Her family and close friends were in the public gallery to support the "highly regarded" defendant at the court hearing.
"She was robbing Peter to Paul, under huge pressure to keep this community facility open," said Ms Owen.
Unconditional bail was granted.