Goods worth £350 were stolen from a Malvern supermarket after a dishonest cashier put his till into training mode.

Although James Lynch scanned a vacuum, a DVD player and a camcorder, the mode meant payment was not required and the till drawer did not open.

But when police went to Lynch's address, he told them they would find the camcorder at the home of Fiona Doyle, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The mother-of-six was found guilty of theft by magistrates but won an appeal at Worcester Crown Court against her conviction.

Prosecutor Rachel Temple said the goods were stolen from Kwiksave on November 4, 2005, and Lynch pleaded guilty to theft after an investigation by the store's loss prevention manager.

Lynch's wife Kate and Mrs Doyle, of Martin Close, Malvern, were neighbours and good friends.

Mrs Doyle told the court she had an arrangement with Kate Lynch to buy the vacuum for her. She was due to be paid for them a week later when Mrs Lynch received her monthly wages as a cleaner.

Mrs Doyle, aged 38, approached Lynch's check-out and said he also passed her the DVD player, asking her to take it home for him because he was on his bike and couldn't carry it.

The same night she handed over the vacuum and the DVD player to Mrs Lynch.

Mrs Doyle said a week later Lynch confessed the goods had not been paid for at his till.

She was "not impressed", and once back home searched for a receipt but was unable to find one. The next day the police turned up.

The prosecutor claimed that Mrs Doyle was expecting Lynch to put her camcorder through the till for free.

But she said Lynch had indulged "in a mad moment".

Quashing her conviction, Judge David McEvoy QC said he had come to the conclusion that the prosecution had not proven its case to the desired standard.