A HEALTH authority employee has changed his plea and admitted a computer fraud.

But Neil Stephen Roberts denies that the fraud, which involved selling NHS laptops on eBay, amounted to £40,000.

In his basis of plea, he says it was more like £4,000.

The case against him has been adjourned for two weeks to see if the prosecution and defence can come to an agreement.

Judge Niclas Parry, sitting at Mold Crown Court, said that if the dispute remained then he would have to hear evidence on the issue to decide on which basis he should be sentenced.

Defending barrister Andrew Green said that it was hoped that an agreed figure could be agreed before the sentencing date.

Roberts, of Oak Meadows, Tanyfron, near Brymbo, who at the time worked at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, had previously denied a fraud charge and a trial was due to be held.

But in court yesterday he asked that the charge be put to him again.

He admitted that between June 2013 and March 2017 that while occupying a position of trust as a desktop support technician, in which he was expected to safeguard the financial interests of The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Trust, that he dishonestly abused his position by selling laptop computers for his own personal gain.

Judge Parry told him he would still receive credit in sentencing by his plea.

He ordered a pre-sentence report and said he would be misleading the defendant if he told him to do anything other than prepare himself for a custodial sentence.

Roberts no longer works at the hospital.