THE opportunity to steal from the shop they worked in proved too tempting for an Evesham couple.

Stephanie Malin and boyfriend Anthony Osbourne took their chance to steal goods on a number of occasions from the Dillons Newsagents in Evesham's High Street, a court was told.

Droitwich magistrates heard the couple decided to risk their jobs due to financial hardship.

Between July and September the manager at the store - Osbourne's father - became aware of discrepancies.

"Monies were not being paid in when they should have been," said Mark Soper, prosecuting.

"Certain people have access to the till and neither of these people did. They were seen removing stock from the shelves and not making any payment."

Food and cigarettes

Malin and Osbourne stole food and cigarettes from the store. The court heard a third person had also been involved in police investigations.

"A shop assistant had failed to record accurately the stock these people took from the store," said Mr Soper. "In interviews Osbourne told police he had received double the goods he paid for, or only some of the goods were scanned."

Malin and Osbourne, both of Summerfield Gardens, Evesham, were also seen taking money from the Lottery till.

The 20-year-olds admitted two charges of theft and one of receiving stolen goods, a value totalling £210.

"It was really opportunism on the first occasion and due to financial hardship that both were tempted," said Richard Wilkes, defending. "Having done it once it was more tempting.

"They deeply regret what they've done. The aggravating feature is that it's theft from an employer. As a result there's clearly been a rift in the family."

Magistrates ordered the couple each to undertake a community punishment order of 110 hours. They were each ordered to pay £59 costs and £105 compensation.