A DROITWICH woman stole nearly £2,000 from her employers and tried to blame someone else for the theft when challenged by police.

Leeanne Edwards stole the cash from Burger King at Rashwood on three different occasions in January and February, Worcester Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Edwards was assistant manager at the site when staff noticed cash had gone missing, said Abi Nixon, prosecuting.

One bag of money containing £1,805 went missing on Tuesday, January 1, £60 cash on Saturday, January 19, and £65 cash on Monday, February 4.

Edwards was arrested after managers realised the money was in her care when it had gone missing, and police found paying-in slips and money bags in her possession during a search.

"She said she knew nothing about the money that had gone missing, and could give no explanation," said Ms Nixon.

"She tried to blame another member of staff, saying she had sub-totalled the till on the day the money went missing."

Edwards, of Thames Drive, eventually admitted three counts of theft from her employer.

The 26-year-old had one previous conviction for theft on her record from 1995.

Martha Recordon, defending, said Edwards was a heroin addict who was under stress at the time because she was working long hours and was looking after her ill mother.

She added Edwards was now in the process of kicking her heroin habit, and had found part-time work elsewhere.

"She accepts she was in a position of trust, but saw the money there and just took it," she said.

"She used the money to feed her heroin habit."

Magistrates gave Edwards an 18-month community rehabilitation order, and ordered her to pay £200 costs and £1,930 compensation to Burger King.