A shop manager who embezzled £1,500 from her store was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
Carol Pirie, 35 Smithton Park, Inverness, admitted the offence which occurred in June, last year while she was working for the Spar shop in Thornbush Road.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel said the area manager became aware of missing money from normally sealed bags of cash and reviewed CCTV footage to find the culprit.
Pirie, 47, was interviewed by management and admitted responsibility.
Mr Carvel added: “Before she was sacked, wages totalling £1054.86 she was due were withheld from her.”
The court heard nothing else had been repaid.
Defence solicitor Patrick O’Dea told Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood: “Her partner was ill and unable to work and she initially borrowed £300. She left the money bag open and returned the cash later.
“She is in a position to repay the shortfall because she now has another job. She apologises to her former employer and the rest of the staff at the shop.”
Sentencing her, Sheriff Fleetwood told Pirie: “This was a deliberate removal of a significant amount of money when you were in a position of trust. Your former employers can take civil action to recover the balance and I will deal with you today.”