A mother of a six-year-old boy who died from cancer has pleaded guilty to siphoning off £100,000 from donations raised for his treatment.

Stacey Worsley, 32, the mother of Toby Nye, admitted defrauding his fund to pay for her gambling habit.

Worsley pleaded guilty to fraud when she appeared at Leeds Crown Court today - less than two months after the death of her son.

Stacey Worsley, 32, the mother of tragic Toby Nye has admitted defrauding Toby's fund to pay for her gambling habit. She is pictured with Toby

Worsley, of Osmondthorpe, Leeds, abused her position as a trustee of the fund to spend the money on gambling, the court heard.

West Yorkshire Police has confirmed that all of the money has been recovered and that Worsley's offending did not affect Toby's treatment.

Toby was diagnosed with rare cancer neuroblastoma on his fourth birthday in January 2017.

The youngster's family launched an appeal to raise £200,000 to pay for therapy which was not available on the NHS.

The fundraising target was achieved with huge support from Leeds United Football Club and its fans.

Early testing after treatment showed his bone marrow was clear of cancer.

Tragically he was then diagnosed with a brain tumour and died on January 12, 2019.

Toby was diagnosed with rare cancer neuroblastoma on his fourth birthday in January 2017. He is pictured in hospital

Prosecutor Phillip Adams said Worsley had pleaded guilty to the offence on the basis that she had illegally obtained a lower figure of £100,000.

The basis of plea has been accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

There was discussion between counsel in the case and Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, about money being recovered from online gambling companies.

Wosley spoke only to enter the guilty plea and confirm her date of birth and nationality during the seven-minute hearing.

The case was adjourned for a probation service report.

Worsley was granted bail and will be sentenced on March 29.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: 'As part of the investigation, police have secured the return of all of the money involved with a view to the majority being used to support an identical local good cause, which is yet to be decided on, and an amount being redistributed to identified key donors.

'At no point did the fraud affect the child's medical treatment, which was funded separately.'

A spokesperson for Leeds United said: 'We can confirm that all money raised by supporters, players and staff of Leeds Untied during our Toby Nye campaign was ring-fenced by the club and used to pay for Toby's treatment.'