Lorraine Thompson forged a signature stating that her partner had died
Took certificate to register office hoping it would clear £2,000 of debts
Thompson couldn't go through with it - sparking a probe and her arrest
She pleaded guilty to charges of theft by employee and fraud in court
A GP's receptionist stole certificates in a bid to fake her boyfriend's death to clear his debts, a court has heard.
Scheming Lorraine Thompson, 43, forged the doctor's signature on a form stating her partner Mark Holmes had died, because she wanted to do 'something nice' for him.
A court heard she then took the certificate to the Register Office in Birmingham and hoped his 'death' would lead to debt amounting £2,000 being written off.
Thompson got cold feet and couldn't go through with it - sparking an inquiry that led to her arrest, the court was told.
The GP's receptionist pleaded guilty to charges of theft by employee and fraud at Sutton Coldfield Magistrates' Court.
She was told it was a serious matter a prison sentence couldn't be ruled out.
The court heard Thomspon had worked for Dr I U Haq at The Firs Surgery in Bromford, Birmingham, between April and December last year.
Prosecutor Karen Cockitt said: 'During the time she worked there, two death certificates went missing. At that point staff were not sure who had taken them.'
The court heard Thompson then went to Birmingham Register Office on December 2 with one of the certificates, which she had completed, stating her boyfriend Mr Holmes had died.
She gave staff a false name but failed to complete the registration process and then didn't turn up at another appointment she was given.
Inquiries were made with the surgery, which confirmed the certificate was one of those that had been stolen.
When quizzed by police, Thompson admitted she had stolen the forms despite being offered a promotion.
She said she had forged Dr Haq's signature and had hoped to write off her boyfriend's debts by falsely registering his death.
Ms Cockitt added: 'She could not explain why she took the decision to do what she did. She wanted to do something nice for her partner.'
Speaking in court, Thompson said: 'I did not go back (to the Register Office) and I thought that would end it. I did not think it would go any further.
'I think I need psychiatric help. I get depression after a few years and I do something stupid.'
The court heard that the receptionist had previous convictions for dishonesty and had admitted three charges of theft from an employer in 2011.
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