A bogus barrister who conned her Cotswold employers into believing she was legally qualified and then defrauded them out of more than £14,000 has been ordered to pay the firm just £300 in compensation because that is all the money she has.

Charlotte Elvidge, 40, of Green Drive Cottages, Little Barrington, Gloucestershire, was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years on October 11 last year after being convicted at Gloucester Crown Court on four counts of fraud.

She had got a job with C.E. Lifts of Rodmarton, near Cirencester as contracts manager and defrauded them of £14,128.51p between November 9, 2015 and April 4, 2016.

Prosecuting barrister Janine Wood said yesterday (Thursday): "The defendant has only got £300 in available assets but the benefit of her crime amounts to over £14,000.

His Honour Judge Michael Cullum told Elvidge: "This Proceeds of Crime hearing is now concluded and I order you to pay the company £300 in compensation within 28 days."

The Proceeds of Crime hearing can, however, be reopened if Elvidge comes into money in the future and has more assets available for confiscation.