A PREGNANT cashier caught stealing thousands of pounds from Worcester’s main post office after bosses installed a spy camera has had a prison sentence suspended.

In two separate thefts Julie Garbett stole £3,500 from the Post Office in WHSmith, High Street, to pay for a deposit on a new flat, rent, bills and debts.

She even paid £100 off her boyfriend’s credit card bill without him knowing.

Garbett, aged 23, of Back Walk, off the Tything, Worcester, admitted both charges of theft by employee at a previous hearing at Worcester Magistrates Court.

At the sentencing hearing, Sarah Stock, prosecuting, said managers at WHSmith noticed Garbett’s till was £2,000 down when cashing up at the end of the day on Tuesday, September 2.

Garbett, who is due to give birth in about two weeks, went off sick for a month the following day so suspicious store bosses installed a covert camera monitoring her cashier booth.

Ms Stock said: “She then returned on Thursday, October 9, and was seen to take £1,500 in cash from her work station.”

As a result, Garbett was suspended from work while internal investigations were undertaken. The court heard that interviews were arranged with Garbett but she failed to attend.

The police were called, Garbett was arrested, and she then made a full admission of the thefts during an interview with officers.

Ms Stock said: “She told them all of the money had been spent.”

In mitigation Paul Stanley said his client, who was of previous good character, was suffering with depression and had suicidal tendencies.

“She is extremley remorseful for what she has done and visibly shaken about what might happen to her,” he said.

“She’s very sorry for what’s happened, clearly she was wrong, but the motives are there in terms of financial matters.”

Magistrates sentenced Garbett to a total of 16 weeks in prison which they then suspended for two years. She was made to pay £60 court costs, while WHSmith is looking to retrieve all of the £3,500 she stole through civil proceedings.