An employee who forged signatures to gain thousands of pounds from the University of Leeds has been jailed.
Sarah Simpson, 40, admitted abusing her position as a personal assistant to obtain money pay off a debt to drug dealers.
Leeds Crown Court heard Simpson began working for the university's Institute for Medical Education in 2012 and her responsibilities included dealing with petty cash.
Prosecutor Jessica Randell said Simpson would require a signature from her boss to take money out of petty cash.
Throughout 2018, Simpson made repeated requests for signatures to obtain cash.
The requests began to be queried as they often exceed the limit of £115.
An investigation was launched when it emerged that the department's petty cash was having to be replenished more often than any other department within the university.
Miss Randell said it was revealed that Simpson had forged signatures on 49 occasions to obtain £5,934 over a period of ten months.
Simpson was suspended from work and admitted responsibility for the deception when interviewed.
She said her former partner had built up a drug debt and dealers kept turning up at her home demanding money after they split up.
Simpson, of The Larches, Swarcliffe, Leeds, pleaded guilty to fraud.
Joanne Shepherd, mitigating, said Simpson has a 20-week old baby.
She said the offence was committed after she came out of an abusive relationship, adding: "He was in debt with dealers and he left her considerable debt."
Simpson was jailed for 12 weeks.
Sentencing, Judge Tom Bayliss QC said: "Those who steal from their employers, as you stole from your employer, must understand that a breach of trust of this nature will result in individuals going to prison."
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