A POST Office worker has been spared jail after pocketing thousands of pounds in cash while she was on the job.

Sharron Seward, of Bodlondeb in Flint, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday for sentence.

The 45-year-old had admitted an offence of fraud by abuse of position at a previous hearing, in that between June 17 and July 13 while working for the Post Office, she dishonestly abused the position intending to make a £5,000 gain for herself.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court Flint Post Office Postmistress Helen Bailey conducted spot checks on July 12 and noticed one till was short of cash.

The amount was substantial - some £5,085.

When Seward was back in work the next day, she was interviewed and admitted she'd been taking a few hundred pounds from the till on each shift.

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CCTV footage was checked, and it was discovered that on a regular basis over the preceding month, she'd count out a few hundred in banknotes, put the cash in a moneybag and hide it in her neck scarf.

The money would then be moved to a cardigan, and she'd walk into the back office to put the cash in her bag on top of a fridge.

Mr Espie said while the method was somewhat unsophisticated, it showed clear premeditation.

Aggravating the matters were a similar previous offence, and the fact she'd had previous warnings - including a final warning letter in March - showing she'd engaged in similar behaviour previously.

After admitting she'd been taking money, Seward said she was £30,000 in debt and had dealings with a loan shark she felt intimidated by.

In a victim statement read to the court, Helen Bailey said she'd had to dismiss the defendant after the offending came to light - which left her short staffed and having to make up the missing money from her own savings. 

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Gary Harvey, defending, said: "She did approach the victim in this case and offered to pay some time ago, but was told the matter was proceeding through the courts.

"With the assistance of her father she was hoping to discharge the debt at an earlier stage, but the debt is still outstanding.

"The most important thing for this lady is her admissions.

"She recognises the victim gave her employment - she was in a position of trust in the currency booth.

"She has problems with finances and bills to pay.

"She was getting increasingly into debt and was seeking help from loan sharks.

"In a candid interview, it wasn't lost on the police the predicament she was in."

Ceri Hughes, chair of the bench, told the defendant: "This is a serious offence, made more serious by the fact it's not your first offence of the same nature.

"It is also aggravated by the impact on the victim and your failure to respond to the warnings about your behaviour."

The court imposed a 12-month custodial sentence, but suspended it for 18 months.

She must complete 20 days of rehabilitation work and 200 hours of unpaid work, as well as paying £1,000 in compensation to Ms Bailey.