An employee at HMRC has been jailed today after plundering over £12,000 from the accounts of those she was tasked to pursue for unpaid tax.

Employed as a coordinator within the tax department's debt management and banking division, Karen Hindle had direct access to the personal banking details of individuals with outstanding tax debts or returns.

But, in what prosecutor at Southampton Crown Court, Gareth Munday, described as a "flagrant breach of trust", Hindle jotted down the bank card details of more than 50 taxpayers on to HMRC post-it notes - which were found during a police raid at her Hampshire home.

An internal investigation by HMRC was launched after suspicious activity in the accounts of the single mother's victims were revealed, soon after they had paid off their VAT and income tax debts.

In total, Hindle made 67 dishonest transactions, as well as claiming £4,000 in benefit to which she wasn't entitled to and making a false application for a £15,000 bank loan in her sister's name - who she initially claimed to be, when police first searched her house.

The court heard Hindle had alleged that the person the police were infact looking for was away in Devon looking after their sick mother, with her true identity only revealed when her partner was questioned.

Pleading guilty to fraud through the abuse of her position, Hindle received a 12 month sentence with judge Peter Ralls QC ignoring petitions from the defence for clemency, pointing out that 'only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate'.

Speaking after sentencing, Joff Parsons from internal governance at HMRC said: 'HMRC and its customers' expect the highest standards of behaviour from staff. Hindle abused her position within HMRC to commit fraud and steal from the public - which will simply not be tolerated. We have robust internal security systems in place and will investigate any suspicion of wrong doing. We will be relentless in identifying and prosecuting those few individuals who abuse the trust placed in them.'

Following her arrest, Hindle was suspended by HMRC and she resigned shortly afterwards.