Clitheroe Greggs manager stole more than £10,000 on shift

Sarah Nutter, 48, of Barnwood Road, was responsible for handling cash and inputting the day's takings into a safe at closing time at the store, operated by the EG Group, run by Blackburn's billionaire Issa brothers.

Area management began to notice the cash did not match up to the transactions that were recorded from February 26 to March 12, 2022, with an estimated £10,400 being unaccounted for.

When asked where the missing money was, Nutter replied: "You tell me", said prosecutor William Donnelly at Preston Crown Court. 

A formal disciplinary was given to Nutter when CCTV revealed she had been putting the cash into her handbag instead of the safe, and she resigned soon after.

She was given the option of paying the money back in £200 installments for four years in September 2022, but made no effort to make any payments.

Richard Bridgen, mitigating, said Nutter stole the money as the cost of living crisis meant that she was struggling to care for her sick husband and daughter, running the household "on the breadline".

He said: "When you are looking after two members of your family, the cost of living means money does not go as far as it used to."

Nutter has two previous convictions for three similar offences of theft, but these dated back more than 20 years.

Sentencing Nutter, District Judge Richard Clews said: "It is a serious crime to steal from your employer because it involves trust, and employees like you should be able to be trusted.

"As far as compensation is concerned, I can only order what you are reasonably able to pay. 

"I hope I can be confident that you will remain out of trouble in the future, and please do comply and be careful not to commit another crime."

Nutter pled guilty to theft and was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to attend 20 days of rehabiliation.

How and when Nutter repays the stolen money is at the police's discrepancy, the court heard.