An NHS health care assistant who claimed sick pay while she carried out a second job has been convicted of fraud.

Susan Wilson, from Melton Mowbray, has admitted dishonestly claiming £3,371 from the primary care trust, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland.

The mother-of-two collected the cash between September and December 2006, the NHS's counter fraud service said.

Wilson said she was too sick to work at Melton Hospital where she was a catering supervisor and health care assistant.

She has now been ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service after she admitted fraud against the NHS when she appeared at Melton Mowbray magistrates' court on Tuesday.

She was ordered to pay £400 of the £5,083 costs and will have to repay the money owed to the trust.

Wilson had pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception.

Investigations by the NHS's local counter fraud specialist revealed she was carrying on work elsewhere.

The specialist, Joanna Clarke, told the Mercury: "Falsely claiming you are sick while undertaking considerable paid work elsewhere is fraud.

"This dishonest practice can take money from vital NHS services.

"We will continue to track down and investigate cases of fraud, ensuring those who are draining NHS funds are suitably punished and others deterred."

A spokeswoman for NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland said: "We no longer employ this member of staff. Fraud takes valuable money and resources away from the NHS and we will not tolerate it.

"We actively encourage our staff to report fraud concerns."