A trainee Kent midwife who admitted faking signatures to pass a degree is set to be sentenced today.

Samantha Meeke, 32, from Spillet Close, Faversham, pleaded guilty to falsifying initials and signatures on coursework for a degree in midwifery.

The fraud was discovered by Meeke's mentors and university tutors and was investigated by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Meeke has admitted three offences of making a false instrument, contrary to Section 1 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

It was said Meeke, who is a qualified nurse and was an employee of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, started a midwifery university course in 2008.

She had an educational placement at Christ Church University College in Canterbury and a medical placement being at Maidstone Hospital.

The qualification included an assessment portfolio, which involved assessments on all aspects of midwifery.

Samantha Meeke admitted in interview she had falsified more than 300 signatures and initials in this portfolio.

Benie English, counter fraud specialist at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: "The implications of someone being accepted as a fully qualified midwife who has falsified crucial elements of their training is a very serious matter.

"Not only has she let down her tutors and mentors but this criminal conviction will have a massive impact on her life."

She is due to be sentenced at Sittingbourne magistrates court this morning.