A teaching assistant is accused of conning her colleagues out of more than £20,000 by pretending to have cancer.

Ursula Rose, 41, who denies all charges, is alleged to have used a doctor’s certificate to trick sympathetic colleagues into donating money for lifesaving treatment, a court heard.

The former classroom assistant at St Thomas Becket Primary School, of Westgate Road, South Norwood, appeared before Croydon Magistrates’ Court facing fraud and theft charges after allegedly telling co-workers she was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer and needed money to pay for care.

Magistrates were told her generous colleagues allegedly arranged a fundraising event at a Croydon bar in her honour, where they collected money from members of the public.

Michael Phillips, prosecuting, described Mrs Rose’s actions as “calculated and a serious breach of trust”.

He said: “She told colleagues she was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer.

“They felt sympathetic and gave her money to help with medical expenses."

Mrs Rose is accused of conning Gill Trype out of £3,000 between March and May 2009. She is also charged with cheating Allison Patmore out of £6,500 between May and July 2009.

She faces a third count of fraud for attending a fundraiser at Bar Txt, South End, in 2009, intending to gain £400, and is also charged with two counts of theft for £5,000 and £5,500.

Mrs Rose, who will stand trial later this year, was released on unconditional bail to reappear before Croydon Magistrates’ Court on July 9.