THE manager of a newsagents in Stourport-on-Severn stole £5,500 from his employer because he was being blackmailed, a court heard.

Darren James took the money over six weeks from Martin's newsagents, for whom he had worked for more than 20 years since starting as a paperboy at the age of 13.

He appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting the theft and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years.

William Rickarby, prosecuting, told the court that James, aged 35, of Clarence Road, Dudley, had falsified bank records to cover up his theft in October last year.

He said: "He admitted stealing £5,500 over six weeks because he said he was being blackmailed by a heroin addict with whom he'd had a brief relationship."

In mitigation, Adam Western said James had begun putting the money back and when the regional manager for the newsagents discovered the theft just £3,000 was still outstanding.

He said: "What he did was, of course, dishonest, but he did make efforts to mitigate the loss to the newsagents."

Mr Western said if the theft had not been discovered when it was, the money would have been paid back in full without anyone being any the wiser.

He added: "The reason he was taking the money was because he had been having a relationship with a man called Steven Ash, a heroin addict.

"He was threatening to tell the defendant's partner of the affair unless he supported him in his need for money."

Mr Western said James had been sacked from his job following the incident and was now in new employment. He said that James deeply regretted his actions and his reputation had been severely damaged.

The recorder made a Proceeds of Crime Act order to recoup the remaining £3,000 and ordered James to pay £372 in costs.