A mother-of-two stole £2,500 worth of goods from the off-licence where she was manager.

Rachel Darling took beer, wine, sweets and cigarettes over seven months, intending to pay for them.

She even told fellow employees at Victoria Wines in Malvern what she was doing and hugged the female colleague who reported her to the area manager, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Darling, aged 32, of Baxter's Walk, Malvern, pleaded guilty to theft.

Judge David McEvoy QC said custody would normally follow such a serious breach of trust against an employer.

But Darling was a single mother who had even taken a university degree to try and better herself.

The judge gave her a three-year community rehabilitation order and told her she must pay First Quench, her former employers, the £2,500 back. He did not specify the time scale.

Darling had been manager since August 2001, but began stealing in April last year.

She told the woman who reported her in November that she had done the right thing, said Nicolas Cartwright, defending.

She had intended to run up a tab and then pay it off but it got out of hand.

At the time she was under "incredible domestic pressure", said Mr Cartwright. Her mother was dying and her 14-year-old daughter had problems.

She was now on benefits but hoped eventually to get a job in town planning.