Woman stole cash and booze from Bolsover pub on her second shift behind the bar

Kelly Newton went into the Black Bull pub, in Hill Top, Bolsover, on October 15 last year and asked for a job, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Tuesday, September 15.

She was offered a shift that evening and was put in sole charge of the property the following day, said Tony Wilkinon, prosecuting.

“They allowed her to work unsupervised the next day and she helped herself to drinks and money from the till and used some of it in the games machines,” he said.

“When they checked, the till was around £160 down.

In a separate incident on New Year’s Day, Newton, 37, of Wrenpark Close, Grangewood, Chesterfield, went back to a man’s house who offered her shelter because she was homeless at the time, the court heard.

She then stole his mobile phone, which had his bank card on it, and drained his account of £500, said Mr Wilkinson.

He added that Newton had then given the phone to another man but she told the court she had thrown it into a bin.

Newton admitted theft by an employee, fraud by false representation and theft when she appeared before the court.

Mitigating, John Wilford said Newton was now drug free and was in stable accommodation.

He added: “From where she was at the time of these offences, the place she was is very different to where she is now. She was at a very low point because she was homeless and had issues with drug addiction.”

District Judge Andrew Davison gave Newton an 18-month community order to include 16 rehabilitation activity days with the Probation Service and 160 hours of unpaid work in the community. She must also pay a total of £750 in compensation.

Sentencing, he said: “These are both breaches of trust. These offences cross the custody threshold and I could very easily send you to prison, but this is not a justification for biting the hand that feeds you.”

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